Construction Engineering Australia V2.03 - June 2016

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Industry News

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Cover Feature: LB Australia

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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 Deputy Editor Rex Pannell Mobile: 0433 300 106 Email: rex@epcgroup.com National Advertising Sales Manager Yuri Mamistvalov Phone: 1300 EPCGROUP (1300 372 476) Mobile: 0419 339 865 Email: yuri@epcgroup.com Advertising Sales - SA Jodie Chester - G Advertising Mobile: 0439 749 993 Email: jodie@gadvertising.com.au Advertising Sales - WA Licia Salomone - OKeeffe Media Mobile: 0412 080 600 Email: licia@okm.com.au Graphic Design Annette Epifanidis Mobile: 0416 087 412

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CIRCULATION 15105 Registered by Australia Post Publication No. 100001889

ISSN 2204-7247

JUNE 2016 Volume 2 Number 3

Impact Protect

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10 Diesel, Dirt & Turf Expo 11

Outdoor Assets

14 Aquatic Facilities

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22 IPWEA NSW News 26 Information Technology 30 ACRS Feature 32 Professional Development 34 Product Focus

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36 Equipment Focus 40 Concrete Institute News

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48 National Precast Feature

About the Cover Safety systems and engineering specialists LB Australia Pty Ltd have developed an innovative modular post attenuator system that reduces the risk of injuries as a result of an impact with a pole or post.

Originally developed to prevent serious injuries to motorcyclists and cyclists during an impact with a roadside post or pole, the Impact Protect modular post attenuator system has also proven itself to be an ideal solution for playgrounds, sports fields and other recreation facilities.

Turn to Page 8 for the full story.

EDITORS COLUMN

Leadership, direction and action...

The three key ingredients to a positive future Dear Readers, As we approach the end of what has become a seemingly 'never-ending' election campaign, it would be fair to say that I may have become a little disillusioned with some aspects of the modern political process. Not surprisingly, I feel certain that I am not alone.

Now, before any of you reach for the keyboard in readiness to fire off a vitriolic email to complain about any perceived underlying political bias - positive or negative - let me assure you, the following is intended as a completely neutral, nonpartisan editorial. I am not affiliated with, or a member of, any political party or interest group, and I espouse the following opinions purely on the basis that I am, perhaps not surprisingly, somewhat opinionated and of course, in the hope that they may be (to some at least) appropriate and interesting.

With that in mind...

To say that the past decade has been at times 'politically challenging' both at a Federal, State and Local Government level would not only be stating the obvious, it would also be an exercise in politically-correct understatement. From unscheduled changes of leader (including numerous changes in leadership teams) and the accompanying accusations and machinations, through to changes and cancellations of major projects as a result of change of government and most recently, major (often unwanted) changes to Local Governments in New South Wales, it would be fair to say that politics in Australia is at best 'robust' and at worst 'completely chaotic'.

While that in itself can make for interesting news items and provide those with a proclivity to call into talk back radio or take to social media for a good old rant with something to really get stuck into, I believe that this constant political upheaval 2

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

is a major detriment to our country - at both a federal, state and local level. Particularly in terms of the 'uncertainty' that it creates across the economy and within our key industry sectors.

As anyone involved in business will surely know - regardless of the size, type or complexity of the business - nothing is more damaging to business than uncertainty. Put simply, trends will come and go, demand for products and services may rise and fall, but nothing will finish your business off quicker than uncertainty.

Whether that uncertainty stems from social turmoil, political unrest, nervous financial markets or, as is often the case, lack of certainty and/or direction in legislation, evidence has shown time and again, that in an uncertain climate, the majority of people will rather 'sit, wait and do nothing' rather than take a risk or make a decision that may fail.

The irony of this inaction of course, is that most decisions that people make carry a certain amount of risk. The point is, that in times of uncertainty, most people's willingness to take any risk whatsoever diminishes considerably. This is especially true when it comes to investment.

Local, global, large- or small-scale, personal or business - the same rule applies - investment and spending requires confidence and certainty. Unfortunately, the tragic side-effects of political uncertainty are being highlighted through our industries.

Whether it's public facilities, infrastructure or construction in general, major projects require planning and development lead times and perhaps most importantly, a high level of confidence on behalf of all stakeholders that the projects will be seen through to completion.

After all, while politics may exist on a 3 or 4 year cycle, for business - large or small -

major investment in equipment, facilities and personnel do not. And it's not only about the required lead times for planning, equipment purchases, staffing and general growth, it's also about long-term viability. Put simply, if businesses cannot be sure that their investments will be used for the intended project timeframe - and hopefully have an ongoing operational component - they will either: a) put it in the 'too hard basket' and not bother; or b) massively inflate the price so as to provide a contingency in case the project gets cancelled or buried in an unforeseen layer of bureaucracy as a result of a change of government I will once again point out at this stage that these comments ARE NOT aimed at any particular political party or person...

They intended as a 'call to action' for those involved in all levels of the political process to consider the wider implications of inaction and then, hopefully, work together in constructive manner to overcome whatever 'hurdles' may be currently preventing us from achieving many outcomes.

It may sound 'utopian', but we really do need to think about 'the greater good'.

Sure, it may seem like an old-fashioned, outmoded way of thinking (I'll admit, after reading it back even I'm shaking my head a little and wondering if we can ever achieve this type of consensus) but there are more important things at stake than individual careers or, dare I say, the next couple of fiscal years. .

Anthony T Schmidt Managing Editor

INDUSTRY NEWS

Why does concrete do the things it does?

National seminar series provides unique learning opportunity If you’re in Australia’s engineering and construction industry you can take advantage of a unique learning opportunity presented by the Concrete Institute of Australia to find out ‘Why Does Concrete Do The Things It Does’ from renowned US expert, Professor Ken Hover.

US as one of the ‘10 Most Influential Persons in the Concrete Industry’. He is a Past President of the American Concrete Institute and has an engineering career that spans four decades, including military engineering, general contracting and structural design.

Unique learning opportunity – develop more skills

Concrete Institute of Australia national seminars – who should attend?

The Concrete Institute of Australia is presenting technical seminars across the country in June and July by Prof Ken Hover of Cornell University in the US for those in our industry to develop more knowledge and skills in understanding about “why concrete does the things it does”.

The seminars are targeted at those in the concrete construction industry who may use, produce, place, finish, specify, approve or design concrete. Their purpose is to provide designers, engineers, practitioners, suppliers and contractors of all levels of experience with a better understanding of concrete and the materials used to make it, from its most early stages which are the most formative and important time of its existence.

Few have explained as much about concrete to so many with as much clarity US-based Prof Ken Hover of Cornell University’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, has been the top ranked technical speaker at World of Concrete for the last 22 years. In fact, it has been said about Prof Hover that “few have explained as much about concrete to so many with as much clarity.”

Prof Hover has been recognised by Concrete Construction Magazine in the

‘Must-have’ app takes the guesswork out of concrete placement

A free, user-friendly app that provides concrete placers with real-time local weather info to ensure conditions are right for pouring and curing has just been released.

Available from iTunes and Google Play, the Smart Concrete App from industry group Cement Concrete and Aggregates Australia (CCAA) is a ‘must-have’ tool for anyone working with concrete.

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Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

Seminar dates Sydney - 27 June; Canberra - 29 June; Perth - 1 July; Brisbane - 4 July; Campbell Town (Tas) - 6 July; Melbourne - 8 July; Adelaide - 11 July.

For further details and registration, please visit: www.concreteinstitute.com. au/ConcreteSeries.aspx

It’s designed to take the guesswork out of determining the best environmental conditions for placing concrete to avoid weather-related cracking. The app utilises GPS positioning technology to provide localised temperature, wind speed and humidity data, enabling a more accurate calculation of evaporation rates on site.

This, in turn, allows site personnel to make informed decisions up to a week ahead on when to place concrete to get the best results.

The app also contains tips and best-practice guidelines for concrete placement, making it a handy, mobile reference library on the job.

CCAA says the Smart Concrete App will potentially save concrete placers and builders time and money by helping prevent costly mistakes and remedial work.

The app is also easy enough to use and understand by ‘do-it-yourselfers’ undertaking small concreting jobs around the home.

For more information about the new app and best practice guidelines for working with concrete, visit www.ccaa.com.au

Special Purpose Vehicles hit the road with ease The National Heavy Vehicle Register (NHVR) has joined state and local road authorities to boost productivity and slash red tape for the construction industry.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the National Class 1 Special Purpose Vehicle Notice ensured that vehicles like mobile cranes and concrete pumps would have access to a large network of state controlled roads across Australia and we’ll continue to work with road managers across the country to expand this network.

“It is great to see state and local governments working collaboratively with the heavy vehicle industry and the NHVR to provide Special Purpose Vehicles with better access right around the country,” Mr Petroccitto said.

“The productive and safe transportation of these heavy vehicles is crucial to many industries that drive growth in local communities.”

The NHVR developed the Notice in collaboration with the Australian Local Government Association, State Road Authorities, the Crane Industry Council of Australia and the Concrete Pumping Association of Australia.

“Operators of cranes and concrete pumps that meet the strict standards will be given greater access certainty which will improve efficiency for this essential industry segment,” Mr Petroccitto said.

“The NHVR estimates the Notice will remove more than 4000 permits each year.

“We have assessed that more than 98 per cent of the productivity gains will be related to decreased vehicle downtime and reduced administration costs.

“Over the next 20 years, we will remove $130 million in costs that would otherwise flow on to all Australians.”

Crane Industry Council of Australia CEO Brandon Hitch also welcomed the prospect of simplified and harmonised Special Purpose Vehicle access conditions.

“The Notice will progressively become the reference document for the operation of more than 3000 mobile cranes currently operating in participating jurisdictions,” he said.

For further information, please visit: www.nhvr.gov.au

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INDUSTRY NEWS

MCEC Expansion Plans Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino and Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events, John Eren recently announced the next steps to deliver an expanded Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The project will add nearly 20,000 square meters of flexible, multi-purpose event space, including 9,000 square metres of new exhibition halls, and additional meeting and banquet rooms.

It will be fully connected and integrated with the existing Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Once completed, the additional space is anticipated to generate an additional 74,000 international visitors annually, who spend an average $693 each day while in Melbourne, resulting in an annual $167 million boost to our economy.

The Andrews Labor Government has just completed successful negotiations with Plenary Group which will see this project become a reality.

The construction of the expanded facility and hotel and car park will create an additional 700 jobs. Once construction is

complete, the expanded precinct will add over 800 ongoing jobs to the economy.

“Victoria is the national leader when it comes to major business events, this expansion will help keep our hotels full, our restaurants and bars buzzing and our economy strong,” Acting Premier James Merlino said.

“This investment will create jobs and ensure we stay number one,” he said.

The 2015-16 Victorian Budget provided $205 million for the expansion of MCEC, which will build on the existing success of the Centre, and help cater to the growing demand for exhibitions linked to conferences.

This project is part of a South Wharf development that will connect visitors and local traders with a new 341-room hotel and multi-deck car parking facilities.

Leading infrastructure business, Plenary Group and its partners in the precinct are investing more approximately $150-175 million in this development.

Public realm improvements include a new 24 hour access pedestrian link across the site, enhancements to bicycle paths in the area and a glass enclosed sky bridge linking the car park with the South Wharf DFO. To ensure Victoria has the biggest and best events the Victorian Budget 2016/2017 provided an additional $9 million for the Business Events Fund, which will help the state attract more visitors and investment from around the world.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren, commented: “Business events provide the greatest return of all tourism sectors – delegates routinely spend up to six times as much as holiday makers.”

“This new boost will help our state bid for more events, which will see more people visiting, more jobs created as we become an even stronger state,” the Minister added.

Protecting Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance precinct New planning controls around St Kilda Road and the Shrine of Remembrance will protect and enhance a picturesque and historic part of the inner city.

Victorian Minister for Planning Richard Wynne has approved controls which allow for more development but protect the Shrine and Albert Park Reserve from overshadowing.

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Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

Over the last decade, the number of people living in the area has increased by more than 50 per cent. These controls reflect the growth around St Kilda Road and the need to maintain the area’s streetscape and character.

The planning controls include a mix of height limits, building setbacks and separation for future development and apply

to land between St Kilda Road and Queens Road, Melbourne and Kings Way, South Melbourne.

The previous controls had been in place for more than 20 years and needed updating to keep pace with development.

“Development around St Kilda Road and the Shrine needs to enhance the area, we’re making sure there are clear rules in place which to maintain the areas appeal for residents and at street level," Richard Wynne said.

“Inner-city growth means another 45,000 homes will be needed in central Melbourne by 2031, well-designed apartment buildings around the city will help to cater for that growth and build our reputation as the most liveable city,” the Minister added.

The controls reflect Mr Wynne’s push for a higher standard of inner city development and towers which contribute to the local community through improvements at street level.

COVER FEATURE

AFFORDABLE SAFETY FOR RECREATION FACILITIES

O

ne of the unfortunate 'side-effects' of trying to encourage a more active outdoor lifestyle for both adults and children, is the corresponding increase in the number of accidents and injuries that tend to occur. Whether it's on the sports field or in the playground, one of the most common accidents involves colliding with a pole or post - usually in the form of a goal post, sign post or support pole for a shade sail or other structure.

Thankfully, while most of these impacts result in relatively minor injuries, impacts into posts or poles in playgrounds, sports fields and other recreation areas can, and do, result in

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Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

concussions, severe bruising and in the most severe cases, fractures and other significant injuries.

With that in mind, safety systems and engineering specialists LB Australia Pty Ltd, a local Australian company offering bespoke solutions, have developed an innovative modular post attenuator system that reduces the risk of injuries as a result of an impact with a pole or post.

Originally developed to prevent serious injuries to motorcyclists and cyclists during an impact with a roadside post or pole, the Impact Protect modular post attenuator system has also proven itself to be an ideal solution for playgrounds,

sports fields and other recreation facilities.

Fast, efficient and easy to install, Impact Protect is suitable for use on posts and poles of all shapes and sizes, and in a full range of installation locations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from sports fields, school yards, playgrounds and other recreation facilities, through to bike paths, suburban streets, rural roads, highways and freeways.

The key to Impact Protect's versatility lies within the fact that it is specifically designed to meet the needs of each installation application. Its modular design offers engineers a choice in the thickness and/or number of layers of protection, thereby providing a level of impact attenuation and safety appropriate for the site and activity.

Impact Protect incorporates a fitted inner layer followed by a series of standard sized protectors (fitted annuli) each of standard thickness, composition and Head Impact Criteria (HIC) performance at a given speed. The greater the number of layers fitted or the thicker the layer, the higher the level of impact attenuation.

For larger projects, the protectors are also available as an extra thick custom-manufactured unit, capable of providing the same attenuation properties and protection as a 'multi-layer' application, with the added benefit of only requiring one protector to be fitted per post.

Each layer incorporates two half-sections (semi-annuli) that fit around the post or pole to encase it completely â&#x20AC;&#x201C; providing 360 degrees of impact protection. The half-sections are made from a specially-designed impact absorbing core, fully-encased in a UV resistant, water proof and bird-proof protective layer. The sections can be

QUICK & EASY INSTALLATION The Impact Protect system is extremely quick and easy to install. Once the inner layer has been fitted and secured with the integrated Canvacon wrap, it is simply a case of fitting the required outer layer and securing it in place. For multiple-layer installations, this process is simply repeated until the required number of layers have been installed.

Top Right: Impact Protect protectors are also available as an extra thick custom-manufactured unit, capable of providing the same attenuation properties and protection as a 'multi-layer' application, with the added benefit of only requiring one protector to be fitted per post.

Left and above right: Impact Protect helps to prevent serious injuries to cyclists and motorcyclists during an impact with a roadside post or pole.

provided in any length; however, 1m lengths are practical for most purposes other than guardrail posts and other safety barrier posts.

The half-sections are held securely in place with a high-tenacity â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Canvaconâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wrap material that comes pre-attached for ease of handling and installation. Available in a choice of White or Heritage/ Brunswick Green colour, the adhesivebacked Canvacon outer layer is extremely robust and durable, and is able to withstand long-term exposure to even the harshest conditions. A number of other colours are also available (minimum order quantities apply).

Importantly, Impact Protect's robust design, as well as the fully-encased nature of the fitted annuli, also help to minimise issues with waterproofing and UV protection and in roadside applications, excessive debris after a vehicular impact.

Not surprisingly, the Impact Protect system is already generating interest from councils, facility owner/managers and road authorities alike.

Together with a number of playground applications, Impact Protect has also been fitted to speed and advisory sign posts and centre-median safety fence posts along several sections of highway including, most recently, a section of the Dingley Bypass in outer suburban Melbourne.

Supplied as extra-thick units and fitted with the high-visibility white Canvacon outer layer, the Impact Protect units on the Dingley Bypass are delivering a significant improvement in safety along this 80kph limited section of highway which carries a high percentage of motorcycle traffic For further info on the Impact Protect impact attenuator system, contact LB Australia Pty Ltd, Ph: (02) 9631 8833 or Email: roadsafety@lbaustralia.com.au

MODULAR IMPACT PROTECTION The Impact Protect system is available as a single or multi-layer solution to suit post and poles of all shapes and sizes, and in all manner of installation locations. The modular nature of the system allows for a choice of impact attenuation level to suit to specific the application or location.

DIESEL DIRT & TURF 2016 EXPO

Opening the Diesel Dirt & Turf Expo: from left, Chris Wilcox, Panthers Chairman Dave O’Neill, Event Managers Steve Zivkovich and Norm Pesch.

RECORD ATTENDANCE FOR DIESEL DIRT & TURF EXPO Diesel Dirt & Turf Expo hits over 30,000 visitors on debut

“We have never seen anything like it”, and “absolutely amazing” – these were typical comments from exhibitors at Sydney’s first Diesel Dirt & Turf Expo staged in Penrith, New South Wales.

A staggering 30,000 visitors attended this earthmoving and construction expo – a massive number compared with attendances at similar Australian industry shows.

Importantly, people not only came to look; they came to buy.

Livio Pace of Boss Attachments said he was literally “blown away” by the huge crowd that included machinery attachment buyers who generated around $1 million in sales for his company over the three days of the event.

“We could have closed up on Friday and been very happy with the outcome. Even bigger sales occurred on Saturday, while the crowd on our stand on Sunday was unprecedented.

“Typically from a show of this type we receive a number of enquiries and follow-up for months afterwards. Not this time! People were there to buy on the spot. We’re not talking about small items – these sales were for $50,000 to $100,000 pieces of equipment."

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Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

“As with most of the other exhibitors I spoke to during the event, we’ll be back next year with a major presence. This event is definitely a ‘must attend’ for the earthmoving and construction industry”, he said.

Expo manager, Steve Zivkovich, said the industry members who had supported their own event were now reaping the rewards of their confidence in participating.

“The industry has put its best foot forward to make the Expo a success ... and what a success it was!" he said.

"What's more, it's also clear from the amount of bookings that we already have confirmed, that the industry wants to participate in the bigger and better 2017 Diesel Dirt & Turf Expo which will be held on Friday, 21 April through to Sunday, 23 April 2017,” he added.

Visitors and their families flocked to the grounds of the Penrith Panthers where they were treated to great food from the many food stalls dotted throughout the Expo and enjoyed the entertainment and attractions for their children.

Machinery operators competed for trophies and big cash prizes in several field trials to show off their skills. Some had come from interstate, attracted by the big prizes.

Other major visitor attractions were the Flair Riders Stunt Show, pony rides, face painting, and vintage trucks, while the popular television series ‘BlokesWorld’ filmed the Expo to produce a one-hour episode that will go to air later in the year.

For more information, including booking details for next year's event, please visit: www.dieseldirtandturf.com.au

OUTDOOR ASSETS

a surface solution

for every situation High quality surfacing solutions that are colourful, attractive and made to last... and where the only design limitation, is your imagination!

In these days of interactive screens and hightech entertainment, getting kids to play outside takes a bit more than simply providing a paved or grassed area to play on. Indeed, during the wetter months, even the grassed areas tend to be 'out of bounds' as they quickly deteriorate into a muddy quagmire!

While artificial turf, soft impact rubber surfaces and other surface treatments are far from new, in recent years developments in materials technology have resulted in an almost unlimited choice of finishes, colours and design possibilities.

One company that has been at the forefront of outdoor specialist surface design and installation is Sydney-based company Aussie Outdoor Design, whose range of sports surfaces and surfacing treatments for playgrounds and recreation facilities has earned them an enviable reputation for excellence with councils, schools, and developers alike.

SYNTHETIC GRASS, SOFTFALL & PLAYGROUND MARKINGS Aussie Outdoor Design offers an extensive range of specialist surfacing solutions

for playgrounds and outdoor recreation areas. From synthetic grass and soft impact granulated CSBR and EPDM rubber surfaces, through to high performance surface coating systems and heavy duty thermoplastic pavement markings, there is a surfacing solution to suit all outdoor recreation facilities.

Not surprisingly, together with the focus on robust performance and longevity in harsh outdoor conditions, the Dream Time product range has been developed with a focus on bright colours and fun, attractive designs - with customised graphic solutions to suit all ages and applications.

Jason Day, Business Manager with Aussie Outdoor Design, explained: "When it came to developing our Dream Time range, we placed a specific emphasis on ensuring we could deliver high quality solutions that were also affordable - both in terms of the initial installation and ongoing maintenance," Jason Day said.

"As well as being up to 30 times more durable than painted markings on asphalt or concrete, our range of high quality thermoplastic markings can also provide a range of fun activities in the playground."

"From traditional games such as hopscotch, through to educational grid games and counting games, these vibrant markings can really brighten a playground area and 'bring it to life'," he said.

Together with the fun aesthetics of the thermoplastic markings, the Dream Time synthetic turf and soft impact granulated rubber surface range can play a critical role in eliminating trip hazards on asphalt and concrete paved areas, as well as dirt patches in grassed areas. What's more, all of the surfaces can per permanently line-marked in a range of colours to provide a multi-function sports field or sports court.

QUALITY MATERIALS CRITICAL When it comes to selecting a suitable outdoor surfacing solution, it's important to remember that not all surfacing materials are created equal. As with most things, if you want a quality result that lasts, you need to use quality materials and professional installation.

"The materials we use need to be able to withstand constant exposure to UV and the elements, and of course, the wear and tear that results from regular use," Jason Day said.

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

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OUTDOOR ASSETS

"Put simply, doesn't matter whether it's a sports field, playground or general recreation area, using inferior quality materials will result in a surface that won't be able to stand up to the rigours of regular use. The appearance of the surface with deteriorate and you will start to see damage and material failures in a very short time," he said.

"With that in mind, our primary focus for every job is to ensure that the materials we're using - whether it's artificial turf, soft impact rubber, thermoplastics or other surface coatings - are of the highest quality and suited to

the job at hand," Jason Day added. "After all, it's the only way that we can be sure that the surface will perform as required and continue to function and look good for the long-term."

For further information on the full range of Aussie Outdoor Design's products and services, please call: 1300 887 025 or visit: www.aussieoutdoordesign.com.au

EVERYTHING FROM THE GROUND UP! When it comes to outdoor recreation areas, there's only one name you need to remember...

Aussie Outdoor Design.

From the initial concept, planning and design, through to equipment supply, installation and landscaping, Aussie Outdoor Design can take care of it all... everything from the ground up!

• • • • •

Sports Fields and Multisport Courts Outdoor Gym Equipment Natural Environments and Sensory Gardens Playground and Fitness Equipment Synthetic Grass, Soft Impact Rubber Surfacing and Thermoplastic Markings

Call us today on 1300 887 025 or visit www.aussieoutdoordesign.com.au to find out more.

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Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

GEOFF NINNES FONG & PARTNERS

Andrew Boy Charlton Aquatic Centre Manly, NSW

Hornsby Aquatic Centre Hornsby, NSW

Geoff Ninnes Fong & Partners (GNFP) has been designing, engineering and delivering innovative aquatic and structural building solutions since 1974. > > > > > > > >

Northam Recreation Centre Northam, WA

FINA certified competition pools hydrotherapy pools spas splash pads wave pools pool water treatment systems fully-integrated leisure centres specialist indoor and outdoor sports and recreation facilities > commercial, industrial and residential buildings > high rise buildings > schools

Tom Price Sports Pavilion Tom Price, WA

Frankston Regional Aquatic Centre Frankston, VIC

With over 400 major projects and upgrades of aquatic facilities and building structures completed throughout Australia, GNFP has the experience and expertise to deliver your world-class project.

Centenary Sports Precinct Pymble Ladies College, Sydney Wave Lagoon - Darwin Waterfront Darwin, NT

2018 Commonwealth Games Gold Coast Aquatic Centre

www.gnfp.com.au Geoff Ninnes Fong and Partners

68-70 Crown Street, Woolloomooloo, NSW 2011 Ph: (02) 9332 5100 Fax: (02) 9331 2963

Centenary Sports Precinct Pymble Ladies College, Sydney

AQUATIC FACILITIES

GEOFF NINNES FONG & PARTNERS EXCELLENCE IN ENGINEERING Since its establishment from its founding company, Geoff Ninnes and Partners in 1974, Geoff Ninnes Fong & Partners (GNFP) has gained an enviable reputation as a leading structural, civil and aquatic engineering practice, both throughout Australia and beyond.

Building on this reputation for excellence, Geoff Ninnes Fong & Partners Pty Ltd are proud to have successfully completed two significant aquatic centre projects in 2016.

PYMBLE LADIES COLLEGE – CENTENARY SPORTS PRECINCT

The PLC facility features a 50m x 20m indoor pool with diving end depth from 2.0m to 3.7m and a movable boom

The first is the prestigious Centenary Sports Precinct at Pymble Ladies College which was completed on the 100th year anniversary of this outstanding college in Pymble, Sydney.

Incorporating an aquatic centre with associated sports and parking facilities, this $35 million development saw the establishment of a new Indoor Aquatic Centre complete with: • 50m x 20m indoor pool with diving end (pool depths from 2.0m to 3.7m with a movable boom); • 1m, 3m and 5m diving platforms with dive impact air system; • Learners pool 16m x 8m; • Fitness Centre spanning 14m over the learners pool; • Entry foyer administration and amenities; • New grandstand and change rooms in the pool hall; • Pool plantroom and mechanical plantrooms; • Subterranean air plenums around the pool building's glazed walls • Pool water treatment system utilising Atlas Ultra Fine Filtration with UV to provide extremely high water quality and clarity;

• Membrane electrolysis system that produces sodium hypochlorite for pool chlorination to reduce workplace health and safety risks as related to older bulk delivery chemical systems The roof structure consists of 32m span tubular trusses on an 8m grid using architectural steelwork and connections. A high performance paint system and special purlin coatings were used to protect steelwork in the highly corrosive environment.

The Sports Precinct also incorporates a new raised playing field, constructed as a suspended waterproof concrete post-tensioned slab over a new carpark area. The raised slab provides enough area for a 6,000m² hockey field or twelve full sized tennis courts over a new two hundred and twenty six space carpark. This innovative design has allowed the school to address the demand for car parking and student drop-off requirements, whilst also providing the sports fields on the same previous footprint.

Geoff Ninnes Fong & Partners played a major role as the structural, aquatic and civil

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Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

The PLC Sports Precinct also incorporates a new raised playing field, constructed as a suspended waterproof concrete posttensioned slab over a 226 space carpark.

engineering consultants for the whole project.

Geoff Ninnes Fong & Partners designed the pools, water treatment and all structural and civil works.

Client: Pymble Ladies College (PLC) Project Manager: EPM Projects Architect: PMDL Architecture & Design Structural, Civil, Aquatic Engineer: Geoff Ninnes Fong & Partners Services: Arup Builder: ADCO Constructions

MANLY ANDREW BOY CHARLTON AQUATIC CENTRE Named after Australian Olympic champion and Manly legend Andrew Murray (Boy) Charlton (1907-1975), the Andrew Boy Charlton Aquatic Centre is widely regarded as one of Sydney's premier aquatic health and recreation facilities.

Located in the beachside suburb of Manly, new indoor facility is a major addition to the existing outdoor aquatic centre, and is sure to prove popular with locals and visitors alike. The Indoor Aquatic Centre encompasses a total area of some 3,300m2, including over 2,000m2 of column-free space.

Needless to say, the facility's ocean-side location presented a number of additional engineering and construction challenges.

Indeed, the poor ground conditions, coupled with the area's high groundwater table meant the entire building and all of the pool structures had to be piled to rock.

AQUATIC FACILITIES

The Andrew Boy Charlton Indoor Aquatic Centre encompasses a total area of some 3,300m², including over 2,000m² of column-free space.

The Aquatic Centre incorporates a range of features, including: • Indoor 25m x 20m lap pool; • Indoor program pool; • Leisure pool with automated pool cover under pool concourse; • Spa. The building itself features extensive exposed tubular trusses of up to 60m clear span at 7.2m spacing, diminishing in span to fit within the triangulated building shape. The connections of the trusses and roof bracing system are complex yet refined, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing outcome and structural expression.

The trusses support box section rafters in a sawtooth configuration allowing abundant natural light into the pool hall at every truss.

The three level building core extends west from the pool hall, comprising a large fitness centre on the top level overlooking the oval and the pool hall, with amenities, crèche, pool and mechanical plantrooms on the 2nd level

and an additional brine plantroom on the 1st level.

The building also features an extensive subterranean air duct network on two sides of the pool hall to provide warm air to minimise condensation on the expansive glass walls.

Each pool is filtered using its own dedicated filtration and water treatment plant designed to comply with the NSW Ministry of Health – Public Swimming Pool and Spa Pool Advisory Document.

Each pool and water treatment plant system utilises the latest technology available in the water treatment industry, comprising: • Atlas Ultra Fine Filtration (UFF); • Automatic flow control by way of flow sensors and variable speed drives; • Oxidation and control of chloramines by way of high intensity, medium pressure UV plant; • Disinfection using a sodium hypochlorite solution manufactured on-site by means of brine electrolysis using a Siemens OSEC electrolysis unit;

• pH correction using CO2 gas with a back-up system using dry acid; • Automatic and proportional control of disinfection residuals and pH control using a Siemens water chemistry controller; • Pool control boards complete with Program Logic Control and display panels controlling and monitoring all aspects of plant operation and water treatment.

Geoff Ninnes Fong & Partners Pty Ltd undertook all structural, aquatic and civil engineering design of all building and pool structures, pool water treatment and civil works.

Works on the new Andrew Boy Charlton Indoor Aquatic Centre are now complete, with the facility expected to opened to the public during August.

Client: Manly Council Architect: Tompkins MDA Structural, Aquatic & Civil Engineer: Geoff Ninnes Fong & Partners Services: WSP Builder: FDC

The trusses support box section rafters in a sawtooth configuration allowing abundant natural light into the pool hall at every truss.

Making Bridges Last Longer

Bridges need coatings that provide corrosion protection and long term durability.

Contact 132 101

wattylprotectivecoatings@valspar.com www.wattylprotectivecoatings.com Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

15

AQUATIC FACILITIES

NOT ALL TILES ARE IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY! CREATED EQUAL The experts from Elite Pool Covers explain how the right pool cover system can help you save money and reduce the environmental footprint of your pool.

In this article we would like to demonstrate how pool operators can save money and make money with the right pool cover system.

systems can deliver a significant reduction in energy costs, labour costs, water bills, chemicals and maintenance and repair costs.

HERE’S THE SCENARIO

First look for the R value Every square metre of pool surface loses up to 1000L per annum. That equates to some 900,000L of water loss per year for a 50mx18m pool. That’s the equivalent of draining and refilling your pool 1 to 2 times every year.

With that in mind, the general rule of thumb for pool cover performance is: the higher the R value, the better the performance and greater the savings from your pool.

Why? because the better the insulation, the less energy required to heat the water. The result - significant energy cost savings.

As an example, we would like to start with an average public swimming pool…50m x 18m. It’s probably heated by gas or heat pumps that use a lot of energy which, not surprisingly, keeps going up in cost every year. And it's not as simple as reducing the pool temperature to save money (we all know how swimmers react when the pool isn’t heated to the exact temperature). Put simply, it’s a catch 22 situation - you must maintain the pool at an acceptable temperature for your paying swimmers, otherwise they will just up and dive into the closest convenient pool... and that’s a loss of revenue to you.

Look at it this way, children learning to swim will be more motivated to learn in a warmer pool rather than a cold one. Indeed, there are examples of swim class numbers increasing when the pool has been covered and the water temperature increased.

From a pool operators perspective, one of the key challenges is maintain the facility to the highest possible standard while also striving for continuous improvement in operational efficiencies. For most pools, general running costs, including pool heating costs, cleaning costs, building costs and maintenance and repair costs represent major expense items. In fact, not too many pool centres break even.

SO WHAT IS THE ANSWER? From a pool heating perspective, one of the most effective money saving methods is to install an efficient pool cover system. Indeed, a high quality purpose-built pool cover 16

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

Calculator (https://www.epa.gov/energy/ greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator)

COVER UP WELL AND SAVE MORE

Environmental benefits of installing the right pool cover system Installing the right pool cover system can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of you pool - especially when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Consider this… in a NSW climate, maintaining a water temperature of 27º in a 50m outdoor pool measuring 50m x16m and with an average depth of 1.2m uses around 10,043 MJ PA, whereas the same pool, covered with the right pool blanket will only use 5,653 MJ PA to achieve the same water temperature. That's a reduction in energy use of around 43.75%, which not only equates to thousands of dollars saved in heating costs each year, it also results in a reduction of over 296 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year - which is about the same as taking 63 cars off the road.** ** Greenhouse gas calculations as per the US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies

Put simply, without a pool cover, the heat is escaping... and that costs money and wastes energy.

When considering pool heating options, selecting an appropriate pool cover is one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make - and not all pool covers are the same.

You have a choice…solar bubble blanket or thermal blanket.

"Consider this… in a NSW climate, maintaining a water temperature of 27º in a 50m outdoor pool measuring 50m x16m and with an average depth of 1.2m uses around 10,043 MJ PA, whereas the same pool, covered with the right pool blanket will only use 5,653 MJ PA to achieve the same water temperature."

Question 1: Is your pool closed during any of the daylight hours?

If yes, solar bubble blankets will provide heat from the sun, giving you a potential increase in water temperature of up to 7 degrees. In addition, their high insulation value makes them highly effective when it comes to keeping the heat in the pool overnight.

AQUATIC FACILITIES

functions easily and efficiently - the potential for Occupational Health & Safety claims are greatly reduced.

Thankfully, there is a wide range of suitable systems readily available on the market; including concealed storage systems, multilayered bench systems with automatic rollers, as well as hydraulic driven cover systems that can also be wall mounted... so you have a choice.

WHAT NEXT?

Question 2: Will the pool cover be placed over lane ropes?

If so, you need to consider a thermal shield pool blanket which will have a longer life when consistently pulled over well maintained lane ropes. Good quality thermal shield pool blankets are also reversible (when the pool shape allows) giving them a longer lifespan.

Whether you choose a solar bubble blanket or a thermal shield pool blanket, it's important to

remember that the higher the R value, the better the performance - and the higher the return on investment is going to be for you.

Finally, it's also important to remember that time is money; so look for a pool cover system that is efficient, easy-to-use and reliable.

That, in turn, will minimise the time required to deploy and retrieve the pool cover - saving both time and money. Also, with the right pool cover system - one that is well designed and

If your pool doesn't have an efficient cover, it may be time to sit down and re-evaluate the current heating costs and energy requirements and look at the saving that can be achieved. After all, there are many highly effective pool cover systems now readily available - and the savings - both in terms of the operational costs and environmental footprint of your pool - make the right pool cover an excellent investment.

For further information, contact Bernard at Elite Pool Covers on Ph: 1300136 696, email: sales@poolcovers.com.au or visit: www.poolcovers.com.au

ELITE POOL COVERS THE NAME SAYS IT ALL!

Save time, money, energy costs, chemicals and maintenance costs with Elite Pool Covers custom commercial range of pool cover systems. With Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest range of high quality, performing pool cover systems, Elite Pool Covers can solve your pool problems.

BEFORE YOU BUY CONTACT ELITE, FOR AN OBLIGATION FREE FEASIBILITY & RECOMMENDATION

1300 136 696 I SALES@POOLCOVERS.COM.AU I WWW.POOLCOVERS.COM.AU

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

17

AQUATIC FACILITIES

Rats’ letter leads to ‘functional’ memorial

REDEVELOPED TOBRUK MEMORIAL POOL COMPLEX OPENS IN CAIRNS With its extensive multi-million makeover now complete, Cairns Regional Council recently opened its newly redeveloped Tobruk Memorial Pool complex.

Standing as the new 'Jewel in the Crown' of Cairns' public leisure and recreational facilities, the recently redeveloped facility offers members and guests a FINA approved 50m Olympic Pool, a 25m lap pool, a warm water therapy pool, a toddler splash area, a Flow Rider, Café, two function rooms and retail area.

The complex, which is managed by Belgravia Leisure on behalf of Cairns Regional Council, is sure to become a popular destination for locals and visitors alike thanks to the array of state-of-the-art features on offer.

Fittingly, rising swim stars and local youngsters were given the honour of being the first to splash out in the redeveloped Tobruk Memorial Pool complex at the official opening celebration in May. Officially opened by Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Ben RobertsSmith VC,MG and surviving Rat of Tobruk Henry Tranter, the complex is a full-scale aquatic centre, boasting facilities suitable for both competitive and recreational swimmers.

The 50 metre, 10-lane main pool has been built to FINA standard, enabling the complex to host top-level competitive swimming and international training camps, as well as aquatic sports and recreational lap swimming.

“To achieve FINA accreditation, the main pool has to be millimetreperfect in its dimensions,” Mayor Bob Manning said.

“A lot of work has gone into the design of the pool and the complex as a whole to ensure it suitable for top-level competition and training camps, as well as the enjoyment of residents," the Mayor added.

The pool will get its first competitive workout when the North Queensland Games are held in Cairns in June. Following that, the Australian Paralympic swim team will train at the facility in July.

As impressive as the pools and other facilities are, the 'star attraction' at the complex is undoubtedly the FlowRider artificial wave system.

With installations in aquatic and recreation parks in more than 30 countries and an increasing presence on international cruise liners, the worldwide phenomenon makes its Cairns debut at the Tobruk Memorial Pool.

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Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

A letter from the Rats of Tobruk Association to Cairns City Council 60 years ago was the impetus for the construction of the Tobruk Memorial Pool. The organisation expressed their wish in 1956 to assist in the building of a community pool that would perpetuate the memory of those who fell in the Siege of Tobruk.

The Council, in response, established a committee to raise funds and construction subsequently started in 1960.

The original Tobruk Memorial Pool was officially opened by then Mayor S. Darcy Chataway on 24 March 1962 in the presence of 35 veterans of the Siege of Tobruk.

The complex at the time included a 50 metre pool, children’s pool and a circular wading pool, along with a grandstand and main build with the now Heritage-listed façade. It cost a total £85,000, £3000 of which was contributed by the Rats of Tobruk Association.

The facility was considered a “functional war memorial”, combining the objectives of providing a usable community asset with symbolic and historical elements.

For further information, visit: www.tobrukmemorialpool.com.au

Visitors can grab a bodyboard or stand-up board and test their skills against a high-flow wave in a box. Riders can purchase a shared 30-minute session on the FlowRider or hone their skills through group or one-on-one lessons.

“We’re expecting the FlowRider to be popular with locals and tourists alike,” Cr Manning said. “It’s a great fit for Cairns and builds on our objective to encourage a healthy, outdoor lifestyle.”

Two heated 25 metre pools add to the versatility of the complex, which will cater for learn-to-swim classes, hydrotherapy and rehabilitation programs, aqua aerobics and more. A toddler splash play area is also provided, together with a kiosk and function facilities.

The complex managers, Belgravia, also intend to add mini golf, trampolines and outdoor exercise stations.

“We expect more than 100,000 people a year will use the aquatic complex,” Cr Manning said.

The $23.7 million facility included a $4.8 million contribution from the Federal Government’s Regional Development Projects in Northern Australia Fund.

Instructor Nick Edmunds demonstrating the pool's new FlowRider artificial wave system.

AQUATIC FACILITIES

the resultant problems and repair costs can far outweigh any perceived initial savings.

OPTIMAL WATER ABSORPTION RATE IS CRITICAL

NOT ALL TILES ARE CREATED EQUAL WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN SPECIFYING TILES FOR AQUATIC CENTRES Pools and Aquatic Recreation facilities represent major assets and expense items for the majority of councils throughout Australia.

Poor choice of materials during the planning, design and construction phase can end up costing literally millions of dollars extra in maintenance and repairs, as well as being a major inconvenience to patrons.

As with most things, when it comes to the design and construction of a pool or aquatic centre, asset owners have a wide range of options available to them - not only in terms of overall design and features, but also in terms of the construction materials and methods used.

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Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

Ceramic tiles have proven themselves to be a superior finish within swimming pools.

As well as providing a protective chemical and stain resistant skin to the pool structure, the fact that they are available in a wide range of colours, sizes and slip-resistant formats allows architects and planners maximum design flexibility.

Unfortunately, what many planners arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t aware of is that the type of manufacturing method used to create a ceramic tile will often determine the function of that tile in a wet or dry environment. This can, and has, resulted in some instances where unsuitable tile types have been specified for pools - and

More often than not, these problems are related to the water absorption rate being less than the optimum range of 0.5% to 0.7%.

Much literature tells us that the lower the water absorption rate the better the tile will perform in a wet environment. While this may be true for tiles in showers and bathrooms, tiles used in pools and extreme wet areas need to have the recommended water absorption range in order to create an ideal bonding environment with cementitious adhesives.

Agrob Buchtal has been manufacturing tiles in Germany since 1755, supplying both pressed and extruded tiles to more than 100 countries, making them a market leading specialist. As part of their extensive tile range, Agrob Buchtal only recommend their Chroma pool tile range for use in pools and

AQUATIC FACILITIES

extreme wet areas. Manufactured by an extrusion process, these tiles offer superior performance qualities for pools when compared to a pressed or glass tile.

On the face, an extruded pool tile and pressed tile look very similar; however it is with the course structure on the rear of the extruded tile where the differences become apparent.

Pressed pool tiles have a smoother surface and offer less of a key than the extruded tile, thereby affecting bond strength. The extruded tiles also offer the optimal water absorption rate required to achieve maximum bond strength and tile longevity.

TESTING HIGHLIGHT PERFORMANCE DIFFERENCES Recent test results completed by Deutsche Steinzeug Cremer & Breuer in Germany compared the performance of pool tiles based on their manufacturing process.

As expected, the tests clearly demonstrated that the tile type and manufacturing process have a direct bearing on tile performance within a swimming pool.

A key factor is the relationship between water absorption and adhesive tensile strength. To simply say the more impervious the tile the better, is not a true statement within a pool environment.

A pool tile requires an optimal degree of water absorption (not too high and not too low) to achieve the maximum bond with its substrate. Both pressed and glass tiles absorb less than the optimal absorption rate (of 0.5-0.7%), meaning these tile types are incapable of achieving maximum bond strength. This is demonstrated in the test results, with failure occurring between the tile and its adhesive.

By contrast, for the extruded tiles, failure occurred within the adhesive i.e. the tile-adhesive bond was stronger than the adhesive’s own capacity. The extruded tile’s superior bond performance is aided by its course rear structure which offers a stronger adhesive key, when compared to the smoother glassy finish evident in the microscopic images of the pressed ceramic and glass tiles.

While it is possible to utilise epoxy resins to overcome the glass tiles' inherent smooth surface limitations, this generally comes at a cost impost of approximately 60%, as well as the additional installation risks associated with a two part glue system.

What’s the difference?

Extruded Tile Wet clay is forced through a mould to form the tile shape followed by rapid firing.

Clay is less compacted leaving a coarse structure on the rear of the tile This coarse structure provides a much stronger glue key thereby improving bond strength Microscopic image of a rear extruded tile highlighting its rear coarse structure.

Pressed Tile

Glass Tile

Clay talc (dry) is pressed into a mould to form the shape, followed by rapid fire to sinter the talc particles together Clay becomes smooth with a glassy effect This smoother surface offers a lesser key than the extruded tile affecting bond strength Microscopic image of a rear pressed tile.

White sections show the glassy effect.

Flat sheets of clear floating glass fired with glass powder dyes until liquefied Liquefied glass poured into moulds and set Smooth, glossy surface offers no key for adhesives to form a long term bond

Microscopic image of a rear glass mosaic.

Grey uniform sections indicate a smooth finish.

Water Absorption Water absorption is the degree to which the tile can absorb water. The optimum range for a ceramic pool tile is 0.5% - 0.7% creating an ideal bonding environment for cementitious adhesives 0.5% within the desired range

0.027 – 0.07% well below the desired range

0.00% no absorption possible

Adhesive Tensile Strength Adhesion is the bond strength measurement of a glue to a substrate. Adhesive tensile strength specifically measures material resistance to breaking under tension. The higher the tensile strength the better. Also of interest is what part of the tile system fails first.

Dry storage conditions: 1.79 N/mm² Wet storage conditions: 1.13 N/mm² Failure within the glue i.e. the tile glue bond was stronger than the glue’s capacity

Dry storage conditions: 1.04 N/mm² Wet storage conditions: 0.83 N/mm² Failure between tile and adhesive

Dry storage conditions: 1.06 N/mm² Wet storage conditions: 0.58 N/mm² Failure between tile and adhesive

Chemical Resistance Behaviour following high levels of exposure to chemical attack. In particular ability of surface to withstand chemical degradation.

No visible effect

Significant change to look of surface, in some cases complete loss of original surface

No visible effect

Stain Resistance Behaviour following exposure to staining. In particular ability of surface to avoid retaining stain contaminants. The higher the stain resistance class the less staining occurs.

Stain resistance class 5

Stain resistance class 2

Stain resistance class 5

Source: Deutsche Steinzeug Cremer & Breuer AG in accordance with DIN EN 14411. Tested with elastify water proof polymer and cementitious adhesive (ISO 14001, ISO 9001, OHSAS 18001).

Adhesive tensile strength results based on an average of seven tests, within the following conditions:

- Dry storage: 28 days at 23°C (±2) with 50% air humidity (±5).

- Wet storage: 7 days dry standard climate (as above) and then 21 days in water.

TILE MUST BE 'FIT FOR PURPOSE' While an uninitiated buyer might consider a lower-priced item to be suitable for the demanding conditions in a pool, evidence and experience shows that the primary consideration must be that the tile is truly 'fit for purpose'.

Certified manufacturers with stringent quality control measures are the best

way to ensure consistently high product quality - from raw materials to final product. In addition, tile packaging should always be clearly labelled so you know the manufacturer and country of origin. After all, any perceived savings that you may make at the outset can soon fade into insignificance when you have to start replacing tiles and repairing pools.

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

21

IPWEA NSW NEWS

NSW local roads congress

sets out multi-level transport plan The provision of ongoing financial assistance totalling over $370 million for the management of local roads and infrastructure, notably in regional areas, was welcomed by the 2016 NSW Local Roads Congress in Sydney.

The Congress concluded by issuing a communiqué congratulating the Federal and State Governments on providing ongoing financial assistance for the management of local roads and infrastructure through the: • $50 million in the NSW Government Round-2 of the Fixing Country Roads Program • $40.58 million from the Australian Government for 55 projects in the Bridges Renewal Round 2 Program and $52.44 million for 25 projects under the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program-Round 4 • $53.5 million from the Australian Government's 2015-16 Black Spot Program • $225.1 million from Canberra in 2016-17 for NSW Councils under the Roads to Recovery Program.

The Congress is run by the NSW Roads & Transport Directorate, a partnership between the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) and Local Government NSW. IPWEA Chief Executive Officer, John Roydhouse, said the Congress again provided regional and urban Local Government with the opportunity to exchange ideas and hone policy directives that resulted in a communiqué that provides a foundation for future action.

"The spirit of cooperation between the State Government agencies, the elected representatives and the technical managers of the transport and infrastructure assets was at the forefront and contributed to the success of the Congress in seeking future improvements to NSW Transport issues," Mr Roydhouse said.

IPWEA-NSW President, Warren Sharpe OAM, along with Garry Hemsworth and Mick Savage of the Roads and Transport Directorate were other major speakers along with Keith Rhoades, President of Local Government - NSW and John Coulton, Chair

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Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

of the Australian Rural Roads Group.

Mr Sharpe said the IPWEA had worked well with the Office of Local Government to reduce the backlog of infrastructure in the state, including running seminars on this issue attended by more than 300 council officials Local Government staff and elected officials had meaningful discussions with top State Government officials including the Keynote Speaker, Peter Duncan, the CEO of Roads and Maritime Services, his General Manager Regional Maintenance Delivery, John Dinan, Tim Reardon, the Secretary of Transport for New South Wales, Jenny Davis, Executive Director of Infrastructure NSW and Mark Hely of the Office of Local Government.

Mr Duncan said there was a direct corelation between investment in roads and road safety, noting that upgrading of the Pacific Highway from the Hexham Bridge over the Hunter River to the Queensland border had seen average annual fatalities on that highway halve in the past decade.

John Sidoti MP, the Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Roads spoke on State Government Initiatives and the NSW Treasurer, Gladys Berejiklian sat in on the Transport and Infrastructure to listen to what local government had to say and talked with delegates.

The Congress communiqué also said the new State Government Fixing Country Rail Program could cut the freight impact on local roads by directing more freight onto rail.

"These programmes have greatly assisted NSW regional councils in developing regional economies, improving the condition of transport infrastructure, opening up additional HML freight links and promoting road safety on regional and local roads," the communiqué stated.

The NSW Roads & Transport Directorate’s Road Management Report and Timber Bridge Management Report published under the Road Asset Benchmarking Project showed a $447 million gap each year in expenditure needed to maintain regional and local road networks in their current condition.

Other than Roads to Recovery funding, which has a limited life, State and Federal Government funds did not address this deficit, so it was critical that Roads to Recovery became permanent.

Sustaining transport infrastructure needs new funding to support regional NSW communities with long roads and low population that produce high value product, feed Australia, drive exports and provide the playground for our cities.

The Roads Congress endorsed the Australian Local Government Association’s (ALGA) Local Government’s Plan for an Innovative and Prosperous Australia 2016 proposal which quoted a National Transport Commission statistic that 36% of all kilometers travelled are on local roads, and supported calls to: • Restore the indexation of Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs) • annually index FAGs • lift the quantum of FAGs to at least 1 per cent of Commonwealth taxation • support the Local Government – Higher Productivity Investment Plan of $200 million per year for 5 years • Permanent doubling of Roads to Recovery to at least $700 million annually The Congress supported the Local Government NSW Submission on the NSW Budget for 2016/17 on road and transport infrastructure issues, but noted some uncertainty in the basis for funding of the NSW Local Government Road Safety program. The Congress called on the State Government to confirm funding for the NSW Local Government Road Safety Program on a three year rolling program basis.

To further the outcomes of this Congress, delegates listed measures each level of government should follow:

NSW LOCAL GOVERNMENT 1. advocate for their communities by writing to relevant Ministers and local State and Federal MPs seeking support for the Congress outcomes 2. continue to improve asset management performance by: a. working with the Office of Local

Below: IPWEA Director Bill Woodcock with John Earls of Canada Bay Council, Roads and Transport Portfolio Director, Garry Hemsworth of Central Coast Council and Rolly Lawford of Gilgandra Shire at the 2016 NSW Local Roads Congress.

Bottom: NSW Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian with IPWEA NSW CEO John Roydhouse at the 2016 NSW Local Roads Congress

Local Government Mayors and Councillors at the 2016 NSW Local Roads Congress

Government to complete the framework to provide transparency and consistency of infrastructure measures in the Integrated Planning & Reporting framework b. building capacity within the Local Government industry by supporting ongoing training and knowledge sharing c. taking responsibility for developing future skilled professionals by cadetships and experiential development programs d. encouraging region based standing working groups on asset management to provide peer support and pressure to help public works professionals and councils in each area e. encourage implementation of standard auditing of assets 3. promote better techniques and technologies from outside the industry to better meet community needs.

STATE GOVERNMENT 1. develop a sustainable funding model for NSW local government which ends impediments to sustainable funding within Integrated Planning and Reporting frameworks 2. redistribute Federal Assistance Grants to regional NSW to address social equity and cut the infrastructure funding gap, with a more meaningful rate charged on city land so urban councils are not financially disadvantaged.

3. continue to provide resources to Local Government to manage and upgrade transport infrastructure, notably bridges 4. start a program via the Department of Planning to develop strategies to determine and mitigate the cumulative impact of State Significant Development (e.g. mining) on communities and transport infrastructure beyond the

immediate development area 5. initiate consultation with Local Government to develop a Freight Strategy to lift productivity via targeted investment 6. lift Regional Road Block Grants to address the $89 million/year regional road funding gap.

7. commit to ongoing council involvement in existing RMCC arrangements on the state road network.

8. Support councils to work with local businesses and communities to implement local and regional Climate Change Plans - notably relating to infrastructure.

9. Request State funding to assist in the provision of Road Safety Audit Training for a nominated Road Safety Auditor within each council.

10.Add a Transport for NSW person to the IPWEA Roads and Transport Directorate.

11. Increase financial support for Weight of Loads groups for better road asset management and road safety

NSW & AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS 1. continue funding Local Government under grant program such as Fixing Country Roads and the Bridges Renewal Program 2. build upon the Fixing Country Rail Program to cut freight loads on local and regional roads, including resolving institutional impediments for access to existing rail 3. ALGA work with COAG, informed by State Local Government peak bodies and IPWEA, to develop a new National Infrastructure Partnership for the three tiers of Government for smarter long term investment planning in transport and community infrastructure.

4. allow National Disaster relief payments to be used by Local Government for betterment of affected assets, not just replacing like with like so the problem recurs.

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT 1. restore the CPI increase in Financial Assistance Grants to Local Government 2. review the distribution of Federal Assistance Grants, noting social equity for local councils with low populations 3. make Roads to Recovery funding permanent at current levels from 2019-20.

4. progressively increase funding to Local Government tied to a percentage of the GST equal to 1% of National GDP 5. Permanent doubling of Roads to Recovery funds (to at least $700 million per annum)

AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION The NSW Congress seeks the support of the ALGA to deliver the NSW Roads Congress outcomes.

Mr Roydhouse said the IPWEA and the LGA will use the policies set out in the communiquĂŠ as a blue print for the advancement of local government infrastructure in New South Wales in the coming years.

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

23

IPWEA NSW NEWS

Left: WesTrac's Wollongong Area Manager Andrew Cairns from Wollongong and Central West Area Manager John Bynon from Dubbo at CIVENEX 2016 Showing the CAT 303.5E CR mini-excavator, which us part of the variable size range of Caterpillar excavators ranging in weight from 900 kilos to 100 tonnes.

Successful CIVENEX 2016 Leaders of Australia's construction and engineering industries congregated at Australia's premier infrastructure industry Expo, CIVENEX, held at the Hawkesbury Showgrounds on May 18-19.

The myriad of companies that supply Australian Local Government and the Federal, State and Territory Public Works Departments and their affiliated bureaucracies, along with major contractors attended CIVENEX which was opened by the Federal Member for Macquarie, Louise Markus who outlined the Turnbull Government's support for infrastructure projects run by all levels of government.

She noted the employment generated by such project in her area, initially by the direct employment of workers in the North West and elsewhere, but also the spin offs generated by the extra money injected into local communities.

IPWEA's CIVENEX Director, Bill Woodcock said exhibitors came from industries as diverse as Civil Construction, Outdoor Design, Plant and Machinery, Materials Handling, Software, Communications, Supply, Lease & Hire, Technical Services, Water Issues, Waste Management, Fleet, Maintenance and Road and Drainage construction.

Caterpillar dealer, WesTrac, Rhino Buckets, J-Steel, J.P.H. Equipment, Damlier Trucks, precision toolmaker Wacker Neuson, compaction specialist Conplant, Hatz Diesel, Mitsubishi Materials, Hino, road equipment supplier Paveline and laser machine operators, Atom Lasers had major displays at CIVENEX. More than 2,500 people attended CIVENEX to meet and talk with representatives from more than 200 companies represented in the new, larger display area at Richmond.

CIVENEX is an initiative of the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia-NSW Division (IPWEA-NSW), which has a 108 year history of leadership in infrastructure development.

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Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

The NSW Government recognised the leadership in State and national infrastructure of CIVENEX by supporting the Expo through use of the State logo in all promotions of this state significant event.

The Chief Executive Officer of the IPWEA-NSW, John Roydhouse, said CIVENEX saw a strong representation from the public sector, reflecting the current huge outlays, especially by the NSW Government, on infrastructure.

"Many attendees marveled at the major construction works they passed on the way to CIVENEX, notably the gargantuan steel frames erected to build the North West Railway and the new housing areas opened up along the route that will encourage the public to use a rail system that will offer a train every four minutes."

"Moving CIVENEX to a peak infrastructure investment area was fortuitous as people arrived at the gate aware of major projects and so could see why events such as CIVENEX are crucial to ensure optimum communication between the component groups in the Australian infrastructure mix," Mr Roydhouse said.

"In 2016, CIVENEX again showed it is the place to do business with both exhibitors and visitors excited by the innovation and this investment in public infrastructure," he said.

A new addition to CIVENEX was the seminar program which included addresses on Sustainable Public Infrastructure Development, maximising productivity in fleet usage, worker safety and an ICAC spokesman on avoiding inadvertently breaching rules on dealing with government which could lead to fines or in the extreme, to imprisonment.

ICAC's Senior Project Officer, Adam Shapiro, outlined how Public Sector agencies implement corruption prevention and risk management strategies. Mr Shapiro discussed why corrupt conduct continues despite prevention efforts and what company owners, managers and seniors executives needed to be aware of to ensure they were not linked to any misdemeanours.

Mr Shapiro warned that corruption usually occurred where there were weaknesses in operational arrangements and a failure to ensure proper use of the controls inherent in well-designed and managed systems.

Eddie Michalsiev from Stuttgart, Germany came to Australia to attend CIVENEX 2016 with Steve Jacobsen of Ventrac Australia to exhibit the new AGRIA remote controlled slope mower that cuts backwards and forwards thereby eliminating turning, and can operate on inclines of up to 50-degrees.

Mike de Bono on the Wacker Neuson ride-on trowel machine which optimises the finish on concrete surfaces

"My speech was aimed at executive and senior managers who have operational responsibility for work areas that have significant risk for corruption," he explained.

Matthew Turner, of plant risk assessment company, Plant Assessor Limited, spoke on Practical Plant safety Management based on his extensive experience in general management and the building and implementation of safety systems. He described how, thought his Plant Safety Management Model, the company prepares to help owners, operators and industry safety professionals simplify plant safety systems and make them more effective.

The Plant Safety Management Model identifies three key elements of a plant safety management system, Safe Plant, Safe Environment and Safe Operator and the complex operational, maintenance, hazard awareness and OH&S regulatory requirements that they encompass.

Mr Roydhouse said every stage of an infrastructure project was covered by CIVENEX exhibitors, ranging from the consultants involved in identifying a need and planning the response, the surveyors who are first into the fields being developed or the construction teams and their contractors and suppliers right down to the landscapers who at the end of a project restore the greenery.

The new Richmond CIVENEX site allowed broader areas for the suppliers of earthmoving equipment to display their latest models which are always a major show piece. For 61 years, CIVENEX has been the 'go to' Expo not just for suppliers and buyers along the infrastructure chain in New South Wales, but right across Australia.

A feature of the second day of CIVENEX was the auction run

by Pickles Auctions. Hundreds of contractors, farmers, tradies and others congregated at lunchtime on May 19 for the auction of heavy equipment, large and small bulldozers, cars and boats.

This was the second year of the CIVENEX Pickles Auction which retailers of heavy equipment and trucks praised as a great initiative that allowed sellers to upgrade to new units they purchased at CIVENEX using deposits from the auction sale. Many of the items offered were sold by local government.

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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS QUEENSLAND ENHANCES PROJECT DELIVERY WITH SPECIALISED DATA MANAGEMENT

12d Synergy AEC software creates collaborative environment for in-office and remote workers.

Civil engineering and project management consultancy, Engineering Solutions Queensland Pty Ltd (ESQ), has increased productivity by enabling team collaboration and providing a central data repository for project-related emails and design files using 12d Synergy.

12d Synergy is a data management and project collaboration software suite for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industries that solves the problems of document management and transmittals, task allocation and email tracking.

Established in 2013, ESQ formerly relied on manual processes to manage road design, earth works, drainage and infrastructure modelling projects.

As its business expanded, the firm recognised the need for sharing and managing project related tasks, documents, email and data to avoid project bottlenecks.

“The team previously used their local computers to schedule and record their daily tasks, and this information was not shared,” said Mal Peaker, Design Office Manager, ESQ. “Because our Director manages most of the client liaison, a lot of important project data would sit in his inbox. That created an inefficient work system because no one would be notified of potential client or project changes unless they were copied on emails,” he said.

With each project comprising numerous design, correspondence and data files – anything from drawings to task notes and communications – tracking the progress of jobs could no longer be accurately managed without direct and timely access to up-to-date information.

“For example, when a client called chasing information on a project, we wouldn’t always know the details behind the request because we wouldn’t have the files needed to review or an effective way of retrieving the background information,” Mr Peaker added. “Since we are such a young company, we were looking to get a data management system so we could keep up with new demands and peak workloads by collaborating throughout the lifecycle of every project.”

Since migrating its projects and data library into 12d Synergy’s architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) data and project management software, ESQ has enabled a collaborative and file-sharing environment to provide its team of seven with the most up-to-date information.

Using 12d Synergy’s Outlook plug-in, ESQ has automated the filing of emails; emails are now attached directly to a job folder which all staff can view and action. ESQ has also introduced a formal documentation process with templates for fee and project proposals, as well as project assessments. Document naming conventions are enforced by the system.

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These capabilities are being supported by 12d Synergy’s over-arching revision and version control, which simplifies the process of backup and audit when changes need to be made to a job. This means ESQ can quickly roll back to previous versions of designs created with a geospatial platform, such as 12d Model (also developed by 12d Solutions) “With a comprehensive data management and collaboration system in place, ESQ is in a position to expand its business with complete control of its project designs, documents and liaison,” said Joel Gregory, General Manager, 12d Solutions.

“Mal and his team have future-proofed the organisation by building a collaborative environment that allows projects to be delivered on time regardless of the location of its designers,” Mr Gregory added.

ESQ’s implementation has been backed by 12d Synergy’s renowned, locally-based support through which 12d Solutions’ technical team has provided ongoing guidance to maximise the value the software delivers.

ABOUT 12D SYNERGY 12d Synergy is the data management and collaboration product of Australianbased Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) software developer, 12d Solutions. 12d Synergy is designed to solve problems around tracking email correspondence, document management and transmittals, task allocation and management of geospatial data from 12d Model and other industry-standard AEC design platforms. 12d Synergy is available globally from 12d and authorised resellers. For more information, please visit: www.12dsynergy.com

ABOUT 12D SOLUTIONS 12d Solutions is an Australian Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) software developer founded in 1991. The company’s flagship product, 12d Model, is a powerful terrain modelling, surveying and civil engineering software package built for projects including, but not restricted to, land development, highways, mining, urban drainage and flood modelling. 12d Solutions is available globally from 12d and authorised resellers. For more information, please visit: www.12d.com

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

A COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO ASSET AND PROJECT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT

By Rob Stummer, Managing Director, IFS Australia & New Zealand For engineering and construction firms, the difference between long term success and failure can hinge on how effectively they manage assets – both their own assets and the ones they deliver to clients.

Those that excel at asset lifecycle management can deliver more value and will have an advantage. Enterprise software capable of supporting operations and maintenance, not just financials, is part of the foundation for success.

With technological advances like the Internet of Things, new assets will be smarter and more reliable than those seen before. Many will communicate directly back to their original manufacturers or designers and a collaborative approach to looking after plant and equipment will be required.

However, these are just a few links in the asset lifecycle management chain, says Colin Beaney, IFS Global Industry Director. “An approach that looks at the full lifecycle is needed.

Especially when you are spending all of that money, a primary focus has to be on the project management of the initial asset design.”

The scope of the challenge goes well beyond tactical monitoring of assets to larger lifecycle issues, such as accurate master data, effective collaboration with contractors, and disciplined project control. And, since engineering and construction carry many environmental, health & safety impacts, organisations must pay close attention to compliance.

A SINGLE SOURCE OF TRUTH Because of the importance of maintenance to asset-intensive organisations, enterprise asset management solutions are widely used. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions, while widely used to run finance and operations, are often perceived as a poor fit because they may lack full-blown, integrated asset management functionality.

To manage the installation of major new capital assets, organisations also employ best-ofbreed design or project management solutions.

As a result, what often occurs is a fragmented mix of software, with ERP used for financials, asset management systems for maintenance, and standalone tools to manage projects.

The success of asset-intensive organisations is inseparable from how well they manage assets

track who is certified to install, run or maintain specific assets.

While a standalone asset management system might be able to trigger an order for a critical piece of equipment that has failed, it’s also crucial to operations that managers have visibility into exactly when it is going to be delivered. And, when an asset is due for a major upgrade, you want the related asset data to flow right into the project control and costing for the upgrade project.

SIMPLIFIED COMPLIANCE

over their entire lifecycle, and that means tight control over capital projects, close collaboration with engineering and construction firms, and effective handover of asset design data into systems for procurement and maintenance.

A standalone enterprise asset management system is not going to fulfil all these asset lifecycle management goals. Supply chain processes, HR master data and many other areas are best handled by ERP systems.

For example, the smooth handover of assets from construction firms and engineering design teams into the hands of the asset owner sets the stage for success in efficiently running that asset and deriving maximum value from it over time. Ideally, this handover should not be a cumbersome “point to point” linkage between design systems and asset management systems, but should flow into one consistent repository for asset master data. An ERP solution with a common schema for asset engineering data can serve as this “single source of truth”.

Yet, because of the shortcomings of most ERP solutions when it comes to asset management, a standalone enterprise asset management system is often considered the most “critical” business system.

With an integrated solution, however, the organisation has a consistent asset record and hierarchy that can be tapped for everything from procurement, to projects, to HR records that

Better master data for asset lifecycle management is also essential to compliance and adherence to safety standards. While asset management functionality is not a “drop-in” means of compliance and/or meeting standards such as ISO 55000, having an integrated solution that takes a strategic, long-term planning view puts you in a better position to prove that asset management procedures are sound.

An integrated solution supports this by establishing one single source of truth for asset data and should be capable of tracking the tasks handled by subcontractors. Providing a consistent integrated system for authoring and accessing asset data and responsibilities simplifies compliance. A system with document management capabilities further eases the auditing of procedures.

In short, an integrated solution which combines business-critical ERP, enterprise asset management and project control functions is the key to organisations maximising their effectiveness over the entire lifecycle of their assets.

About the Author Rob Stummer is Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand for global enterprise applications company IFS, achieving significant growth over the last five years. He holds a Masters in Information Technology from Melbourne University and has consulted to many of the region’s Top 500 companies. For more information, visit: www.ifsworld.com/au

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

27

CONCRETE INSTITUTE of

AUSTRALIA

Why does concrete do the things it does?

W

 Dates syDney 27 june canBerra 29 june PertH 01 juLY BrisBane 04 juLY caMPBeLL tOWn (tas) 06 juLY MeLBOUrne 08 juLY aDeLaiDe 11 juLY

in cOnjUnctiOn WitH

hy does concrete do the things it does? For a product that in its simplest form consists of only 4 materials, it is an incredibly complex and interesting material. Get it right, and you can achieve amazing results. Get it wrong and the results can be disappointing.

This seminar is targeted specifically at any one in the concrete construction industry who may use, produce, place, finish, specify, approve or design concrete. Its purpose is to provide a greater understanding of why concrete behaves the way it does, what can make it change, and what we need to know to be sure it’s doing the thing we want it to do!

World renowned concrete materials & presenter, Professor Ken Hover from Cornell University in the USA will be the seminar’s main presenter.

Professor Hover will focus on 4 key areas: • • • •

How a concrete mix works (on paper) Taking it to the field and seeing what happens What to do if we want to adjust its behaviour Testing — what we wish we did not know...

The seminar will also include Des Chalmers who is one of Australia’s most experienced practitioners in this field.

This is a wonderful opportunity for the entire construction industry to learn from one of the world’s experts and to know why concrete does the things it does!

Pricing CIA Members CCAA Member CIA Retired Members CIA Student Members Non-Members Seminar & Members Package (incl. 12-month Individual Membership)

$450 $450 $195 $195 $590 $650

sPOnsOreD By

Professor Ken Hover’s career spans military engineering, general contractor, and design engineer-turned academic. It has been said that “few have explained as much about concrete to so many with as much clarity.”

Among many other accolades, Professor Hover is Past President of the American Concrete Institute, has been the top ranked technical speaker at World of Concrete for the last 22 years, and was recognised by Concrete Construction Magazine as one of the 10 “Most Influential Persons in the Concrete Industry.”

AgendA 08:30: Registration 08:45: Introduction 09.00: Concrete Mix Design — Evaluation of Mixtures

Professor Ken Hover What makes a concrete mixture work, and will the proposed mix design meet project needs? The opening session is an overview of how cement, water and aggregates interact in a concrete mix. Emphasis is on understanding reality, not theory.

Delegates will be able to spot key attributes of a proposed mix that enable predictions of yield, expected strength, durability, shrinkage, workability, and cost.

10:30: Morning Tea 11:00: Early Age Concrete — Exciting First Day (or Wild Things are Happening)

Professor Ken Hover The first day in the life of concrete is exciting for those who batch, transport, place, finish, and cure the material. During this same 24-hours the concrete experiences its fastest rates of temperature change, strength-gain, surface-drying, shrinkage, and sometimes, cracking. This session looks at what is happening down inside recently-cast concrete and how micro-level mechanisms govern the macro-behaviour that controls timing of construction operations and goes a long way towards defining later-age strength, durability, and acceptability to the owner.

11:45: The Australian Concrete Industry and its challenges

Des Chalmers The Australian concrete industry has a long history and is founded in part, on a strong technical understanding of concrete and its performance. There have been some serious technical challenges and these have been met by a consensus approach between industry, academia and research bodies

like CSIRO. This session will provide a brief history of the Australian concrete industry and then discuss, by way of examples, how we have managed some of these significant technical issues. Some current and future technical challenges and how we might approach them will also be discussed. A key foundation for the concrete industry is its supply chain, and this may be undergoing some changes – providing another key focus for this session.

12:30: Lunch 13:30: What can you do you change the behaviour of a concrete mixture? – Adjusting with Aggregates and Admixtures

Professor Ken Hover This session will focus on how aggregate size, grading, and moisture content, water reducers, superplasticisers, fly ash, micro silica, and slag affect concrete properties. Delegates will gain insight into how to adjust mixtures, constrained by the twin caveats that “You cannot change only one thing in a concrete mixture,” and “Everything affects everything else.”

15:00: Afternoon Tea 15.30: Are we ready for performance specifications?

Making decisions on the basis of results of standard tests

Professor Ken Hover Traditional prescriptive specifications are often preferred over newer performance specs due to long-experience with standard tests for slump, air content, temperature, and compressive strength. But when it comes to making decisions about the acceptability of fresh or hardened concrete, we ought to look at how variable those test results can be. This session reports 15 separate studies in which six test technicians independently tested fresh and hardened concrete sampled from one batch of concrete from one, single ready-mix truck. Results suggest that we may need to reassess our confidence in our traditional way of specifying and evaluating concrete.

16:15: Australian Standards, Codes and Specifications — coherent or competing?

Des Chalmers As a key part of the valuable Australian construction industry, the concrete industry needs to ensure that it remains technically sound and contributes to an efficient and safe construction industry. Australia has a hierarchical system of codes and Standards that are intended to provide minimum performance requirements for materials and products. That some of these Standards are nominally ‘performance based’ can be contentious. Is there a real alternative? Ideally, specifications then set materials and product performance requirements that are particular to the project and which allow designers to cope with structural and environmental conditions that are expected during the life of the structure. This session will discuss the Australian system of Standards, Codes and specifications specific to the concrete industry.

17:00: Q&A

To register or to find out more please visit http://www.concreteinstitute.com.au/ConcreteSeries

ACRS FEATURE

REDUCING THE RISK OF STEEL SUBSTITUTION With steel used on construction sites being sourced globally, the importance of independent technical validation of materials conformance and awareness of the consequences of failure of these materials has never been greater.

Recent reports from both sides of the Tasman prove that it is simply not enough to think that just because a product has been ordered to an Australian or New Zealand Standard that the delivered product will automatically conform with that Standard.

Having confidence that buildings and structures designed, specified and built to Australian Standards and Building Codes use materials - irrespective of their country of origin - that conform with 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 non-conforming building products.

Australia and New Zealand Standards and building regulations specify minimum performance characteristics and detail 'fitness for purpose' of construction steels.

Alarmingly, in recent times there has been an increase in the use of construction steels supplied as having been manufactured to "equivalent standards" or supplied as "equivalent" to steel grades referenced in an

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Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

Australian Standard. What's more, these claims often relate solely to strength of materials and not to other critical performance measures, such as ductility, required under Australian and New Zealand Standards. Together with the fact that documents provided with such materials are often not sufficient for anyone to validate the claims of conformity, the main question to be asked is always: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Can I see clearly that this steel complies?" ...and then rejecting any you cannot.

HOW CAN BE SURE THAT THE STEEL I'M RECEIVING MEETS THE AS/NZS STANDARDS? Unfortunately, one of the major problems associated with the selection and use of materials that conform with all relevant Standards is that of identification. Or, more specifically, who and what to believe.

In some cases, even though the materials have been specified and ordered to an AS/NZS Standard, the materials that arrive are non-conforming.

These problems are further compounded with issues relating to mixed supply (sometimes referred to as 'shandying'). Mixed supply is where conforming supply is declared, but either only a portion of the product supplied is sourced from a compliant supplier and some sourced from a different, non-compliant

supplier, or alternatively, the material is sourced from a single supplier but the product delivered does not consistently meet the Standard specified.

Importantly, it does not matter whether this non-conformance is an intentional act of deception or 'counterfeiting' on behalf of the materials supplier, the builder or the contractor; or simply a matter of nonconformance through lack of correct process or an innocent misunderstanding of what constitutes conformance with Australian Standards. All that matters to the engineer, builder, building surveyor or customer is that the steel does comply. Using non-conforming building materials carries a high risk of 'built-in' failure - and the results are difficult to correct

FIRST ACRS TECHNICAL APPROVALS ACRS has also formalised its Technical Approvals processes for products used in Australia that are not covered by an AS/NZS Standard, but are under a recognised customer-based specification (such as a formal roads authority specification).

Assessed with the same rigour, audit and validation as all ACRS product certifications, the first ACRS Technical Approvals were recently issued for 15.7mm strand and threaded bar.

Assessment and audits are also currently underway for other products including reinforcing couplers and structural bolts.

ACRS FEATURE

Aren't Test Certificates the same thing?

Test Certificates, ARE NOT the same as ACRS independent certification. Test certificates from the supplier are simply a “snapshot” of the manufacturer’s own test results of the material on the certificate, not its regular supply. ACRS certification demonstrates independently that the supplier manufactures consistently to the Standards stated on the certificate. Unless you are going to check and validate every single test certificate against every delivery, you should check the ACRS certificates for the manufacturer and supplier instead.

Does ACRS certification add significant cost to the steel?

ACRS certified steel should not cost any more. As a notfor-profit organisation, ACRS operates with the lowest cost model and only charges to recoup costs.

Does ACRS certification limit my choice?

ACRS currently certifies 48 steel manufacturers and suppliers located in 17 countries – and is constantly working with new manufacturers and suppliers around the globe. ACRS certification is not about creating a barrier to trade - it's about making sure that those who are doing the right thing aren't put at a competitive disadvantage by having to compete with inferior quality non-conforming products that are not 'fit for purpose' and are being sold at a reduced rate.

How to I verify that the steel I'm using is ACRS certified?

Confirm from your supplier where it sources its steel and check at www.steelcertification.com that they are all certified by ACRS. Then simply check the ACRS reference on the bundle tags on your steel deliveries to make sure the products are from those sources. The ACRS tag provides all of the information needed and, most importantly, the validity of the certificate number and other information can be checked and verified online quickly and easily at: www.steelcertification.com How do I specify ACRS certified steels?

The easiest way to manage and minimise the risk of non-conforming construction steels, is to specify ACRS certified steels.

SUGGESTED WORDING FOR STEEL VERIFIED BY ACRS AS MEETING LONG-TERM QUALITY LEVELS TO AS/NZS 4671, OR AS/NZS 4672: Steel reinforcing and steel prestressing materials for concrete shall comply with AS/NZS 4671 or AS/NZS 4672, respectively. Where applicable, materials shall be cut and bent in accordance with the requirements of the "Material and Structural Requirements for Reinforcing Steel" clauses AS 3600 and AS 5100.5, or the "Reinforcement" Clauses of NZS 3109. Acceptable manufacturers and processors of steel reinforcing and prestressing materials must hold a valid certificate of approval issued by the Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steels Ltd (ACRS), or other product certification system as shall be demonstrated to be directly equivalent to ACRS and approved as such in writing by the specifier.

Evidence of compliance with this clause must be obtained when contract bids are received.

SUGGESTED WORDING FOR STRUCTURAL STEELS VERIFIED BY ACRS AS MEETING MINIMUM REQUIRED TESTING LEVELS TO AS/NZS 1163, AS/NZS 1594, AS/NZS 3678, AS/NZS 3679.1, OR AS/NZS 3679.2 Structural steels shall comply with AS/NZS 1163, AS/NZS 1594, AS/NZS 3678, AS/NZS 3679.1 or AS/NZS 3679.2, as appropriate. Acceptable manufacturers of structural steel must hold a valid certificate of approval issued by the Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steels Ltd (ACRS), or other product certification system as shall be demonstrated to be directly equivalent to ACRS and approved as such in writing by the specifier.

Evidence of compliance with this clause must be obtained when contract bids are received.

and far more costly than simply using compliant steel in the first instance.

The only way to be truly sure that the materials being used conform fully with the appropriate Australian Standards and are fit for purpose, is through independent, expert, third party validation-based certification. In Australia, for construction steels - including reinforcing steels, structural steels and prestressing steels this validation-based certification is provided by the ACRS Steel Compliance Scheme operated by the Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steels.

ACRS provides fully independent assessment and certification for both Australian and internationally sourced construction steels.

By using ACRS certified construction steels, builders and contractors can be confident that they are getting the AS/NZS compliant materials that they ordered, and engineers and building certifiers can be confident that steel meets the requirements of the Building Code and associated Standards.

By providing effective continuous review of both the manufacturer and the fabricator/ processor, ACRS provides a 'chain of certification' to reduce the risk of receiving and using non-conforming steels.

For further information about the validity of certification for any materials being supplied into your project, please visit the ACRS website: www.steelcertification.com, or contact ACRS, Phone: (02) 9965 7216.

ABOUT ACRS JAS-ANZ accredited, ACRS (Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steels) is a notfor-profit independent Authority that provides expert, impartial assessment and certification that gives specifiers and customers the widest available choice of construction steel materials demonstrably compliant with Australian and New Zealand Standards.

ACRS was established in 2000 with the support and endorsement of leading engineering and construction groups, Austroads, AIBS, Engineers Australia, SRIA, Consult Australia, Master Builders Association and the Housing Industry Association, and has become the leader in the field of steel conformity assessment and certification to Australian and New Zealand Standards. Indeed, with over 1,400 audits and 4,200 materials assessments now completed, ACRS is recognised locally and internationally for both its rigorous and practical scheme, and its expertise in the compliance of construction steels specifically to the requirements AS/NZS Standards.

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Leading the construction of Australia’s cities into the future The rapid growth of Australia’s capital cities will create an increasingly complicated environment for the construction and engineering industries over the coming decades. Melbourne and Sydney are hitting critical size points and if we don’t think about how to deal with this now it will have significant consequences for the future.

According to Infrastructure Australia, by 2031, the populations of both Melbourne and Sydney are set to grow to around 6 million. Extrapolated out to 2061, the population growth of all Australian capital cities is predicted to grow by 106.8 per cent, much higher than the national average of 85.8 per cent.

This growth will not only mean greater demand for residential and commercial space, but also will place increasing pressure on key infrastructure. Without doubt, our cities will continue to grow outwards, requiring effective transport and social infrastructure to address the challenges of urban populations that are increasingly diffuse.

In addition, we must also use existing space in smarter and more sustainable ways. The challenges associated with managing this development will pose very real challenges for organisations at the coalface of this changing and increasingly complex environment.

One of the critical factors in determining whether our organisations can meet these complex challenges and ensure our cities are efficient, productive and interconnected is the quality of workplace leadership. The ability of future leaders to guide their organisations through increased collaboration across sectors, rapid technological changes and developing and retaining quality, skilled staff is paramount in this respect.

Many businesses still see leadership and management capabilities as something that can be learned through experience or simply on-the-job. As many existing leaders attest, people who take on new leadership roles are often expected to sink or swim. But technical competence does not predict the ability to lead others.

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As valuable as experience and on-the-job training are to any individual, the research evidence demonstrates that management and leadership are most effectively learned through structured or formal programs, which integrate problem-based projects in the workplace with classroom style teaching that introduces new ideas, concepts and models for solving problems and leading others. In response to this lack in leadership, courses such as the University of Melbourne’s new online Certificate in Workplace Leadership which aims to take a practical approach to enlighten participants about their leadership style and how to effectively harness skills and reach their full potential.

Evidence is now emerging that many organisations fail to make the right kinds of investment in leadership capability.

Where businesses do invest in leadership development, most of these investments tend to focus on senior leaders. However, the dynamic nature of most business environments requires investments in leadership at different levels, especially among frontline and emerging leaders.

The failure to address this leadership capability gap can have devastating consequences. Faced with the task of managing and leading others, many new leaders develop poor leadership habits, and often face significant consequences themselves in the form of stress and burn out.

Leadership development also requires a multi-pronged approach – one that recognises the value in experience and formal or structured programs, often supplemented by individualised support in the form of mentoring or coaching.

These investments also need to take a longer term view, and identify potential pathways for emerging leaders to experience a variety of roles and opportunities to develop new capabilities built on existing strengths.

Approaching leadership development in a more systematic and strategic way will ensure that any organisation can create an organisational leadership capability, not isolated leaders. Doing so will be one important step in creating a pipeline of

emerging leaders within your business that understand how best to adapt to the changing environment in which it operates.

Without this, many organisations may find the challenge of constructing Australia’s cities beyond them.

More information about the new online Professional Certificate in Workplace Leadership, which is available to people within Australia and overseas can be found at: https://online.unimelb.edu.au/lp/ workplace-leadership Expressions of interest to study the course can be made by emailing: studyonline@unimelb.edu.au

About the Author: Prof. Peter Gahan is Director of the Centre for Workplace Leadership, University of Melbourne. The University of Melbourne has launched its first online Professional Certificate in Workplace Leadership to give emerging talent the knowledge and skills they need to become Australia’s next generation of business leaders. The Professional Certificate in Workplace Leadership is one of the few courses in Australia to support people in their early careers and the first to be delivered online. It provides students with the opportunity to connect with academics, their peers and industry.

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PRODUCT FOCUS

NEW DINCEL 275MM PROFILE FOR 50 STOREY BUILDINGS AND 100% WATERPROOFING High rise development is set to become even faster with the introduction of Dincel Construction System’s new 275mm profile. The internationally patented, Australian engineered and manufactured polymer formwork system is renowned for its speed building benefits that can shave up to 50 per cent off construction time. The launch of the 275mm profile now provides the construction industry with a genuine alternative to traditional jump-form systems when constructing buildings up to 50 storeys.

According to inventor and Chairman of Dincel Construction System, Burak Dincel, who is a practicing structural and civil engineer, “There has been unprecedented demand for our product in the last 12 months with our business doubling its sales growth in 2015, leading to additional production lines being installed in the Sydney factory and new distribution hubs opening in Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand.”

The 275mm profile has been launched in response to demand from countries like Japan which require earthquake solutions, and local

builders and developers who are keen to specify Dincel Construction System for high rise building projects. The new wider profile is ideal for highrise buildings’ core construction (lifts and fire stairs) and columns which can be built without scaffolding within the shaft.

The new 275mm profile features an innovative internal ring form which increases the strength of the profile significantly thus achieving an emergency safety barrier in basements without concrete infill. Additionally, it is capable of resisting up to 230mm slump single-pour concrete when poured from a height of 4 metres and, when installed by an accredited Dincel Construction System installer, it provides a 100 per cent guaranteed waterproof solution for basements and tank walls.

The waterproof qualities provide a solution to critical building issues, including concrete cancer, corrosion, mould and mildew, ensuring a higher quality build with fewer defects and lower maintenance throughout the lifecycle of the building. Construction speed is enhanced

through the system’s ability to uniquely snap into position to quickly build walls and columns, which are then site filled with a standard concrete mix. Building with Dincel Construction System also reduces the need for cranage and promotes a safer building site due to the product’s lightweight composition. It also leads to significantly less site wastage, resulting in a cleaner building site.

Manufactured in a dedicated factory in Sydney’s Erskine Park, the new Dincel Construction System 275mm profile compliments the existing 110mm and 200mm profiles and also the soon to be launched 150mm profile. This extensive product portfolio allows more people to benefit from buildings that exceed quality and performance standards, and satisfies the most discerning engineers.

For further information, contact Dincel Construction Systems on 02 9670 1633 or visit: www.dincel.com.au

AFS WALLING SOLUTIONS ACHIEVES CODEMARK CERTIFICATION Australian walling system manufacturer AFS Walling Solutions has taken another major leap forward, with its LOGICWALL® system achieving CodeMark certification. This reinforces that the product complies with the National Construction Code (NCC)* and AS3600-2009 (Concrete Structures) and evidences its suitability for use in the design of a concrete structure.

“This single certificate of conformity will save architects, engineers, builders, specifiers and certifiers valuable time in ensuring LOGICWALL® is fully compliant and fit for purpose – benefiting key stakeholders at every stage of a construction project,” says AFS Technical Manager Dr Adnan Malik.

AFS is a division of building products leader CSR, and its decision to undertake CodeMark certification was also about continuing its parent company’s tradition of constantly refining the company’s internal processes, providing peace of mind for clients and continuing to show leadership within the construction industry.

Prior to receiving CodeMark certification, users of AFS LOGICWALL® had to review significant documentation, test certificates 34

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

and reports to confirm it complied with the National Construction Code (NCC) and AS3600-2009 (Concrete Structures) - a time consuming process.

“Achieving CodeMark certification means that individual durability, fire resistance, weatherproofing, acoustic and thermal performance test documentation is now confirmed in a single overarching, universally accepted document, which will mean considerable time savings for clients,” Dr Malik says.

“The end-to-end nature of the CodeMark certification means users can specify the LOGICWALL® system with complete confidence that it complies with all relevant aspects of the National Construction Code (NCC) and AS3600-2009 (Concrete Structures).

Another key advantage is that the principle certifier must accept that the product complies with all the relevant standards, which is of great benefit to the client."

AFS’s LOGICWALL® system is a permanent formwork system for concrete walling for external and internal applications.

Hard-wearing fibre cement sheets are bonded to galvanised steel stud frames to create lightweight sandwich panels that are used in multi-level construction projects.

PRODUCT FOCUS

INSTALLERS The installer will be required to follow the correct installation procedure as advised by the anchor manufacturer. They should also ensure that the correct drilling and setting tools are available and used.

MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS

HILTI CONCRETE ANCHORS COMPLY WITH THE NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CODE On 1st May, the 2016 edition of the National Construction Code (NCC) was released with a primary reference to the new Standards Australia Technical Specification SA TS 101:2015 Design of post-installed and castin fastenings for use in concrete. The implementation of SA TS 101:2015 is a significant step for the industry in which safety is paramount because for the first time, it provides Australian designers with a consistent approach for the design and assessment of anchor products.

Hilti, the construction fastening specialists, has been an advocate for these design principles and assessment methods for many years, having supported world recognised best practice standards since 2001. Hilti has a wide ranging portfolio of anchor products that are compliant with SA TS 101:2015 through its readily available European Technical Assessment (ETA) documentation upon which the standard is based.

Hilti’s extensive anchor range is also fully backed by technical documentation, software and engineering services. The state-of-the-art design software, PROFIS Anchor, simplifies the design of anchors and ensures compliance with SA TS 101:2015. Should designers need support in solving complex applications, Hilti field engineers are available nationwide to support either on-site or in the design office. Designed to facilitate a safer all-round build and promote higher standards, the new standard will also abandon any confusion or uncertainty surrounding modern construction methods – particularly with regard to load table calculations and ambiguous terminologies. Below are some tips on how the standard should work across the industry.

The anchor manufacturer/supplier will be obligated to provide adequate information to allow the specifier and installer to ensure the safe selection, specification, installation, use, maintenance, cleaning, dismantling and disposal of the anchor without risk to safety or health.

This includes the ETA documentation for the product.

SITE TESTERS Site testers should carry out tests using the appropriate procedure.

Prior to testing, the anchors should be installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions and in the locations prescribed by the contractor’s specifier. Test results should be recorded in a concise, conclusive manner and communicated to the specifier or contractor.

For further information about Hilti Australia please visit: www.hilti.com. au or call 131 292.

SA TS 101:2015 covers the design and testing of mechanical and chemical anchors and cast-in anchor channels for all permanent and safety critical applications such as structural beams and column connections to concrete, heavy mechanical and electrical services.

CONTRACTORS Contractors should ensure that the regulations are followed and the installer is capable of correctly installing the anchor in accordance with the correct setting procedure. If any party proposes an alternative anchor to that specified, the contractor should guarantee that the relevant change management procedure is followed.

DESIGNERS AND SPECIFIERS The designer will need to use the design methodology specified by SA TS101:2015 to determine the capacity of the anchoring connection being designed. They will also need to ensure that the intended product has been assessed as being appropriate for the intended use. This can be done easily by reviewing the ETA documentation of the product.

Specification of the chosen anchor should be made explicitly and completely so that the anchor installed on site abides by the design criteria.

Information about the selected anchor provided to the contractor or installer should include a full description, make, type, ETA number and size.

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

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EQUIPMENT FOCUS

BOBCAT® E17 & E20 COMPACT EXCAVATOR Comfort, Power and Stability

Bobcat® E20 Compact Excavator

excavators - combined with the superior working range - allow you to perform any job. All this, combined with excellent visibility, operator comfort and smoothness never before seen in this class of excavators, will allow you to work for hours on end.

Outstanding breakout forces, combined with the superior stability, make these units ideal for a wide range of jobs. And if you need to be gentle, the smooth hydraulics provide you with precise control to perform fine tasks.

ATTACHMENTS FOR MAXIMUM VERSATILITY

The Bobcat® E17 and E20 are excellent value-for-money excavators. These compact workhorses from Bobcat Company have enhancements that save time and labour, improve operator comfort and get into tight job sites with ease.

A retractable undercarriage, an economical engine and exceptional reach make Bobcat® mini excavators a top performer in the one to two tonne class. The undercarriage retracts to a width of just 980mm to negotiate hard to access spaces, and expands out to 1360mm to provide bestin-class stability.

The E17 and E20 combine the Bobcat® brand’s proven quality with new standards in design to produce the perfect balance of force and stability. These machines are big and comfortable with excellent visibility and easy access to all controls.

To make the space more comfortable for operators, there is the all-important cup holder, a storage box and foldable foot pedals 36

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

for extra leg room. Auto shift travel motors guarantee smoother movement and better traction, especially when turning. Joystickcontrolled boom swing and auxiliary makes operation easier and frees up more room around the operator’s feet.

Thanks to a light weight and retractable undercarriage, the E17 and E20 are easy to transport to any job site. The unique-in-class automatic swing brake and four integrated upper-structure tie-down points make transportation exceptionally easy and safe.

The Bobcat® E17 and E20 excavators deliver a range of benefits, including: • Easy transportability with excellent stability • Robust and reliable performance • Smooth operation for precise job • Unparalleled working range • Best-in-class stability and visibility • Unrivalled operator comfort The E17 and E20 deliver great power and digging performance in a lighter machine.

The unbeatable stability of Bobcat mini

Bobcat Company is the world’s leading attachment manufacturer – and offers the most attachments in the industry. A choice of more than 50 Bobcat® attachments and implements help to grow your business, add versatility, replace less-efficient machines and give you the tools to accomplish major projects.

Compact excavators may have made their name as a digging machine, but they can offer so much more. Bobcat® compact excavators are built to handle as much versatility on the jobsite as operators can throw at them.

Paired with the right attachments and a coupler system that allows for quick and easy exchanges, compact excavators can do more than dig.

Wherever your work takes you – there’s an attachment for practically every job.

Importantly, Bobcat® attachments are performance matched to Bobcat® machines, allowing you to work harder with stronger components and construction. And together with the benefits of national dealer support, parts and service, all genuine Bobcat® serialnumbered attachment is covered by a 12month warranty.

To get the most out of an excavator, the right combination of control, precision, durability and versatility is required. Put a Bobcat® excavator to the test.

For more information on Bobcat® excavators, equipment and attachments, contact Clark Equipment on 1300 736 848 or visit: www.clarkequipment.com

The Doosan DX300LC in action

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

boom and arm assembly deliver robust performance for reduced maintenance costs and extended machine life. The machine's design offers easy access to the oil filter, air cleaner, fuel filter, radiators and other engine components, while features such as centralised greasing points for the boom and arm and extended greasing intervals make maintenance easy and efficient.

DOOSAN EXCAVATOR RANGE DELIVERS AFFORDABLE PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY While Doosan is a relatively young brand in the Australian construction equipment market, the organisation has a heritage in equipment manufacturing that goes back to 1937. Indeed, Doosan Infracore has now grown to become the 8th largest construction equipment manufacturer in the world â&#x20AC;&#x201C; up from 10th in 2015 (according to 2016 KHL Yellow Table).

Its range of large excavators, wheel loaders, and articulated dump trucks offers an outstanding level of quality, reliability and performance without premium pricing. The machines are built for easy maintenance, durability, fuel efficiency, and operator comfort, backed by quality support through Clark Equipment's national branch and dealer network.

WORLD-CLASS CABINS MAKE WORK ENJOYABLE Doosan crawler excavators feature worldclass cabins that combine superior comfort, excellent visibility, low noise levels and a roomy environment. The pressurised cab ensures the operator environment clean and comfortable, while sound suppression keeps machine noise low to reduce operator fatigue.

A new cabin mount reduces cab vibration by 20 percent and noise levels by 1.8 dBa, while the new door window position delivers improved operator visibility. The reclining, height and weight-adjustable air suspension seat offers better lumbar support and includes a headrest and adjustable armrest.

In addition to their outstanding operator comfort, Doosan machines provide operators with an easy-to-read, multi-function display panel. This informs operators of the engine coolant temperature, fuel level and hydraulic oil temperature. It also includes the digital

engine RPM and 15 different machine warnings, and allows the operator to monitor fuel usage with gauges that display both levels and consumption.

DOOSAN DX140LC EXCAVATOR The DX140LC delivers excellent performance in the 12-14 metric tonne size class. It shares the performance, reliability and comfort advantages of larger Doosan crawler excavators.

Performance equals productivity, and the DX140LC has an unbeatable engine and hydraulic system. The high pressure common rail equipped engine and Electronic Power Optimising System (EPOS) deliver optimum power and fuel efficiency. The design optimises combustion and torque for faster cycles and maximum results.

Operators can choose from Standard Mode for optimised fuel consumption and general working conditions, Power Mode for faster cycle times and heavy duty work requirements or Economy mode for reduced fuel consumption in reduced demand applications. A multi-function colour LCD monitor panel displays a variety of machine information, including operation history, flow rate control and filter/oil information.

Recognising that operators are naturally more productive when they are comfortable, the DX140LC incorporates a spacious cab, excellent visibility, high-performance air conditioning, extra storage, and an optional air suspension seat. The reclining, heightand weight adjustable standard suspension seat has a headrest and adjustable armrest for customised comfort.

From a maintenance perspective the DX140LC's durable x-chassis, strengthened

DOOSAN DX300LC EXCAVATOR In the 28-33 metric tonne size class, few machines match the DX300LC-3. It has the horsepower to tackle larger projects but is designed to keep fuel and maintenance costs low.

Compared to previous models, the DX300LC provides improved swing torque, digging force, lifting capacity and boom-up speed. Four selectable power modes give operators added control over the machine's performance and fuel consumption as they work.

Using two boom float modes, operators can focus on their task while increasing the machine's efficiency. In float mode, the boom is allowed to move up and down freely, without hydraulic flow, making it ideal for finishing work and truck loading. In breaker mode, the boom freely moves downward, reducing machine and attachment wear while improving operator comfort.

The larger, world-class cabin combines superior comfort, excellent visibility, low noise levels and a roomy environment. The reclining, height- and weight adjustable standard suspension seat has a headrest and adjustable armrest along with easier controls. Work naturally with the optional air suspension seat and simple controls. The unit's high-performance air conditioning offers adjustable air flow and five operating modes to suit all climates.

Designed for long life with a robust frame and reinforced superstructure, the DX300LC is built for reliability. Bushings and ultra-hard wear disks are designed for extended service intervals and steady performance. The permanently sealed and lubricated track links maximise uptime and reduce operating costs.

Operating costs are further reduced thanks to easy access to key checkpoints, the cooling system and other key components.

For more information on the full range of Doosan excavators, wheel loaders and articulated dump trucks, contact Clark Equipment on 1300 736 848 or visit: www.clarkequipment.com

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

37

EQUIPMENT FOCUS

BATCH PLANT PUMP SUPPORT Australian Pump is working with industry leaders to develop a national batch plant pump support program. By appointing local specialist distributors, the aim is to provide not only pump maintenance for batch plants managers but emergency backup support.

Neil Bennett (left) from Aussie Pumps with Mike Hurlbatt from Pump Solutions Australasia WA, one of Aussie’s batch plant pump service providers. Pump Solutions Australasia are helping to ensure that there is local support for Tsurumi pumps in plants in Perth.

“When we researched the pumps found in batch plants the results were jaw dropping. When a pump breaks down the urgency of the situation means compromises are made,” said Aussie Pumps' Neil Bennett.

“The choice of replacement pumps is sometimes based on availability rather than suitability. We even found cutter pumps, designed for sewage not stones, installed into slump stands,” he said.

Industrial pump distributors with the expertise to provide reliable service and support are being signed up for the Aussie support program. These companies commit to hold stock of Tsurumi KTZ submersible pumps, identified as the most suitable batch plant pumps.

Tsurumi Pump is the world’s leading manufacturer of submersible pumps with an annual manufacturing capability of over 1.4 million pumps. With over ninety years’ experience they have developed a comprehensive range of robust, super-efficient pumps for the concrete batch plant applications.

The KTZ range of Tsurumi dewatering and slurry pumps was developed in response demand from North America and Japanese markets for super tough pumps for batch plant applications.

Tsurumi designed the KTZ series to efficiently pump cementitious laden liquids. The pumps incorporate wear resistant hi chrome iron impellers that enable solids in suspension to pass smoothly through the pump.

“Reliability is a real cost saver for batch plants,” said Bennett.

“These pumps are built to withstand abrasive conditions therefore they work better and last longer,” he said.

The KTZ series offer capacities of up to 2,400 litres per minute flow, and heads as high as 48 metres. The complete series includes discharge bores from 50mm (2”) all the way through to 150mm (6”).

The KTZ series are fitted with 3 phase, heavy duty 2 pole high efficiency motors with thermal and amperage protection against dry running or overloading. The 4 pole motors mean the pumps are running at sedate 1450 rpm affording a considerably longer service life.

“We’ve also produced a handy batch plant pump selector guide that is available for all batch plant operators. The specialist network we’re building aims support every plant in the country making replacement pumps are available within hours,” Neil Bennett added.

For further information on the full range of Tsurumi submersible pumps or details of local specialists batch plant distributors contact Neil Bennett at Aussie Pumps on: 02 8865 3500 or check online at: www.aussiepumps.com.au

EYE ON SAFETY PPA Car Audio supply and install an extensive range of affordable, high performance reversing camera and safety systems to suit all vehicle types - from large trucks and construction equipment, through to commercial and passenger vehicles.

• Reversing Cameras and Sensors • High Quality Cameras & Screens • Vision Recording Systems • GPS Tracking & Fleet Management Systems

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Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

Level 1, 445-449 South Road, Bentleigh, VIC 3204 T: 0404 227 942 E: sales@ppacaraudio.com.au

www.ppacaraudio.com.au

Assisting in building with strength, wisdom and beauty

Before using these materials for your next building project why not call Ability about abilox®. ®

Ability Building Colours manufactures abilox - an extensive range of seventy (70) fine, UV resistant, inorganic mineral oxide colouring pigment powders from which to choose OR we will make you a CUSTOM colour. ®

Unfadeable abilox powder colourants are added to, mixed in and used for permanently ʻthroughʼ colouring of pre-mixed concrete, asphalt, mortars, paints, other surface coatings, caulks and sealants, applied finishes and other composite products and materials used in the building industries.

Individual, colourfast powder colourants, including absolutely permanent ® Cobalt Blue and Chromium Green, are available in the abilox range exstock for immediate shipment to your nominated pre-mix concrete supplier or concrete products manufacturer.

For enquiries call Ability on: (Toll Free) 1800 337 324

Ref: Advert/abilityʼs abilox® (612050)

Ability Building Colours 133-135 Northern Road West Heidelberg Victoria 3081

Postal address: PO BOX 391 West Heidelberg Victoria 3081

Phone: 03 9457 6488 Fax: 09 9458 4683 Email: service@abilityproducts.com.au www.abilityproducts.com.au

Ability’s – abilox®

www.abilityproducts.com.au

CONCRETE INSTITUTE NEWS The Adelaide Convention Centre will play host to Concrete 2017 from 22nd to 25th October 2017.

CONCRETE 2017 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS Hot on the heels of the wonderfully successful Concrete 2015 conference in Melbourne the attention is now starting to focus on the 28th Biennial Conference of the Concrete Institute of Australia – Concrete 2017 in Adelaide.

The conference theme “Advances in Concrete Materials and Structures” will give concrete researchers, designers, and practitioners from all over the globe an opportunity to showcase innovation and trends in the design, research, construction, maintenance, and repair that are making a difference around the world.

The conference is also host to the 3rd International Congress on Durability of Concrete (ICDC), an international forum for exchanging research results and displaying how concrete will continue to create durable buildings and structures for sustainable development in both local and global contexts.

Concrete 2017 will offer participants from around the world an opportunity to connect face-to-face and share innovative and interesting ideas from the latest advances in concrete materials to the design and construction of fascinating structures.

The multidisciplinary theme of Concrete 2017 provides an excellent forum for networking and education and an opportunity to meet and interact with engineers, scientists, researchers, academics, practitioners, and professionals, from Australia and overseas. Whether you attend technical sessions, participate in interactive forum discussions, or network with friends and colleagues, this conference will provide you with ample opportunity for professional growth.

The logo for the conference represents all the things that make Adelaide a great venue – home to world leading concrete structures like the Adelaide Oval, great networking and social gatherings over wonderful food and wine, all taking place at their world leading conference venue – the Adelaide Convention Centre.

The Conference Organising team, headed by Co-Chairs, Professor Julie Mills (Uni SA) and Associate Professor Rebecca Gravina (RMIT), are already working on building upon the success of Concrete 2015 and bringing a world leading concrete conference to Adelaide.

The call for abstracts went out on 11th April 2016, and Concrete 2017 will take place from 22nd to 25th October 2017.

Put the dates in your diaries!

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Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

Concrete 2017 Program Themes •

Materials (e.g. cementitious materials, aggregates, chemical admixtures, recycled materials, geopolymers, reinforcing steels) • Structures (e.g. shear design, design of columns and walls, concrete modelling, earthquake and seismic design, prestress) • Innovations in concrete – design and construction (e.g. 3D printing) • Durability • Repair and retrofit • Environmental • Precast concrete (e.g. design, construction, architectural.)

• Case studies and major projects • Constructability (e.g. construction and infrastructure developments, forensics, formwork) • Education • History and development of concrete • Any interesting application and use advancing concrete materials and structures

Key Dates 11 April 2016

Call for Abstracts Open

14 October 2016

Call for Abstracts Close

25 November 2016

Author Abstract Notification

10 February 2017

Full Paper Submission Deadline

2 May 2017

Comments on Full Papers and Final Author Notification

26 May 2017

Author Registration Deadline

JOIN THE CONVERSATION Stay up to date with all the Concrete 2017 news online. Join the conversation at: Web: www.concrete2017.com.au Twitter: @Concrete_2017 Facebook: www.facebook.com/Concrete2017 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/concrete-2017advances-in-concrete-materials-and-structures-

I NEED WATERTIGHT CONCRETE TO MAKE MY PROJECT MORE DURABLE AND SUSTAINABLE

MasterLife 300D crystalline capillary waterproofing admixture has been used in over 400 major projects to make concrete more watertight. Over 175 of the projects are water or water treatment facilities. MasterLife 300D makes concrete 40% more watertight, extending the service life of the structure.

Hairline concrete cracks self-heal with the unique crystalline technology. It allows concrete to breathe. MasterLife 300D helps keep projects to time and budget. Warranty and technical support now available in ANZ. Call us today on 1300 227 300 (1300 BASF 00) or visit us at www.master-builders-solutions.basf.com.au

CONCRETE INSTITUTE NEWS

Australian Age of Dinosaur Museum – Kevin Cavanagh Medal Winner 2013

2017 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN CONCRETE Call For Entries The Concrete Institute of Australia is pleased to announce that entries for the 2017 Awards for Excellence in Concrete program are now invited.

Established in 1971, the Awards for Excellence in Concrete recognise the many significant contributions to excellence in concrete design, construction, and materials in Australia.

Concrete related projects, technologies and innovations are all eligible to receive an award. The Awards for Excellence program caters for both large and small projects, as well as large and small organisations. Entries will be judged separately in distinct categories.

Awards are presented at two levels: State Awards – all project entries are judged on the state in which they are completed, and winners will be awarded with an Award for Excellence in Concrete.

More than one award may be granted in each category. These awards will be presented at Institute Branch Awards functions held in August – September 2017.

National Awards – winners of Awards for Excellence from each state will be judged in their separate categories for an overall 42

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

winner. The winner will receive a Medallion for Excellence in Concrete.

Please Note: Technology and Innovation entries will ONLY be judged and awarded at the National level. From those entries receiving a Medallion for Excellence in Concrete, one will be judged to receive the Kevin Cavanagh Trophy for Excellence in Concrete. National awards will be presented at the Institute’s 2017 Conference Dinner on 22 October 2017.

The National Portrait Gallery – Kevin Cavanagh Medal Winner 2011

CONCRETE INSTITUTE NEWS

Entries are invited in the following Categories: • Residential buildings – single dwellings or multi-story dwellings used for residential purposes only (up to eleven stories).

• Commercial buildings – offices, industrial buildings, institutional buildings, large residential complexes, or combinations of these.

• Infrastructure projects – buildings such as schools, hospitals etc, and engineering infrastructure projects such as bridges, roads, wharfs, water resources etc.

• Repairs & rehabilitation – for both buildings and infrastructure.

• Sustainability & Environment – separate category specifically to recognise advances in the environmentally sustainable use of concrete. This can include buildings and infrastructure as well as technology and

innovation. Entries submitted under other categories may also be entered under this category.

• Technology & Innovation – includes significant contributions to the understanding or use of concrete as evidenced by research, technical publications, patent applications, new products or pieces of equipment, new techniques, design innovations, or educational activity.

For more detail, view the Institute’s “Awards for Excellence in Concrete” Entry Guidelines and Conditions at: www.concreteinstitute. com.au/2017awardsforexcellence All entries must be submitted in electronic format through the Institute’s website and remember - it is essential that entries concentrate on ‘excellence’ in the use of concrete or its contribution to significantly increasing knowledge and understanding in concrete.

Sea Cliff Bridge – Kevin Cavanagh Medal Winner 2007

Airodek – high productivity soffit formwork system RMD’s Airodek slab formwork is a lighter weight, easy-to-assemble soffit system designed to meet the market’s demand for labour efficient solutions.

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Its quick, safe and simple assembly process 2 enables one man to erect up to 40m in an hour, reducing labour costs and construction time.

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Airodek panels are erected from below the soffit, minimising the safety hazards associated with erecting panels from above.

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The smart simplicity of the design means it is quick to erect and dismantle. Easy to handle, transport, maintain and store.

Like to know more? Check our website at www.rmdaustralia.com.au or call us on

Labour costs are reduced due to the speed of which the system is erected and dismantled, the reduced crew required and also due to the fact that unskilled labour is able to perform this task.

John Weeks, Director, Haig Hunter Formwork

1800 111 763

RMD Australia

Excellence in Formwork, Shoring & Scaffolding

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

43

CONCRETE INSTITUTE NEWS

The Global Climate Change Institute in Brisbane

EXCELLENCE IN CONCRETE Concrete is the most used construction material worldwide, and the second most used substance behind water. In fact the amount of concrete used globally is greater than the combined amount of timber, steel, and other materials used to construct and build. When you take a moment to analyse this statement you can gauge the significant contribution concrete makes to society and the world we live in.

Australia has led the world in many aspects of concrete and its application over the last 150 years, and continues to do so. Some of our achievements include: • Centrifugally spun concrete pipes, first manufactured in 1910 by Walter Hume, which have been patented and made around the world.

• The Gladesville Bridge in Sydney, when constructed in 1965, was the world’s largest concrete arch span bridge.

• The Sydney Opera House saw a world record number of precast concrete panels being used in construction.

• The first Gateway Bridge in Brisbane, 1986, had the largest span, centre to centre to 2 piers in the world.

• The Burdekin Falls Dam in Ayr was the first modern gravity dam in the 44

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

world constructed horizontally with conventional concrete.

• The Climate Change Institute at the University of Queensland in 2013 was the first use of Geopolymer concrete for structural purposes.

These, along with many other fabulous achievements in a rich history of concrete application in this country, are born on the back of a very solid understanding of the base material. So why and how does concrete do the things it does? For a product that in its simplest form consists of only 4 materials, it is an incredibly complex and interesting material. Get it right, and you can achieve amazing results. Get it wrong, and the results can be catastrophic.

In Australia today there are a large number of stakeholders in this industry who contribute to research and knowledge development, as well as designing, producing, and constructing concrete, with the objective of “getting it right”. Significantly, these stakeholders all understand the importance of concrete and the role it plays in engineering and society, but do they know enough about the base material?

There is a changing landscape in engineering and construction in Australia today. Concrete as a material is feeling this impact as the major stakeholders in the industry are all moving with the times. For example: • Many universities are turning their attention more and more to research activities and/or developing curriculum that appeals to a broader base of potential students to remain competitive and viable. As a result some courses have reduced their concrete materials content considerably attempting to cover the complexities of the material in a short period of time (if at all).

• Designers and specifiers are under pressure to deliver outcomes for consulting groups in an ever increasing competitive space. This is further emphasised by the influx of large global organisations that are positioning themselves in Australia and their need for accountability and performance. Is there enough attention being placed on understanding concrete essentials?

• Suppliers are under pressure to meet growing demands for product that must be available at a moment’s notice,

meet numerous specification requirements, adapt to changing conditions and trends, yet must remain economical. Along with concerns with ongoing natural resource availability, is this having an impact on the quality of our raw materials and finished products.

• The knowledge gap experienced at government level (local and state) has been identified for some time now. This has led to a change in specification philosophy at many organisations with an emphasis on reducing the risk in concrete design, production, and placement due to diminishing resources and experience.

• The construction sector continues to move at a rapid rate of knots, and as they look to maximise time and effort ensuring that projects are completed on time and within specification, is there enough time and experience being devoted to ensure that the concrete being used is of the quality required for the structure.

The question that arises from all of this is – With all this pressure to compete, perform, and act efficiently, is it having an impact on our knowledge, design, and application of concrete construction in Australia?

Michael van Koeverden, who is National President of the Concrete Institute of Australia, recently said: “While advances have been made in admixtures, binder and aggregate production, fitments, testing and repair materials, the root cause behind many of our concrete problems is neglect of the basics. All areas of the concrete industry need to have an understanding of concrete the material and how it works."

"Designers must consider whether their designs can be built.

Constructors must ensure they allow for realistic construction time frames with experienced supervision part of the process," he said.

"Placing, compaction and curing of concrete must be undertaken correctly for all concrete construction. You only get one chance to ‘get it right’, with concrete, so asking the right questions at the right time is essential to getting the right outcome,” Michael van Koeverden added.

A lack of knowledge of concrete as a material, or attention to the detail, can be easily seen close up in projects through - unclear or inappropriate specifications, poor construction workmanship, or structural defects (large or small). They may be identified in the early stages of a project, or at some period of time well after completion. However, many of these will cause Spun concrete pipe, first manufactured in Adelaide in 1910

DRYCAST MACHINE ROTOVIBROMATIC COLLE 80/150 H.150

Automated high volume precast manufacture 6x automated moulds producing: • Chambers (600mm diameter including straightback taper) • Pits and Risers (450x450, 600x600,600x900 & 900x900) Additional batching plant also available.

SMARTspan™ is a new precast modular bridge system engineered with a focus on quality and performance - delivering an ultra-efficient solution for almost any bridge situation.

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Ph: 02 9612 5800 or 0419 247 324 Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

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CONCRETE INSTITUTE NEWS

long term issues to the structure and may be used in subsequent legal cases. These then become expensive to all parties concerned, but could have been avoided by an improved knowledge of the material, how it should have been used, and with better management of how it was applied.

Mr van Koeverden went on to say: “We are producing record numbers of structures from concrete, which must naturally mean we are getting better at designing building and maintaining these, but is that the case?"

"We are seeing more and more legal cases around design deficiencies, poor construction, or maintenance outcomes."

"Anyone who has been fortunate enough to travel through Europe and seen some of the Roman concrete structures will understand what good workmanship looks like, even though some structures were built 2000 years ago,” he said, As Mr van Koeverden noted that it is not all doom and gloom in the concrete construction industry. Far from it.

With any significant change comes opportunity, and fortunately there is plenty of scope for changing the way we do things in today’s evolving concrete industry. New materials, state-of-the-art designs, and advanced construction techniques, provide great opportunities for innovation.

These combined with changing financial and political situations are leading to higher benchmarks being placed to current standard practice. Examples of innovation of this sort that are happening now including: • The delivery of detailed research undertaken in Australia into the use of ultra-high performance concrete in bridge structures. This has been applied into practice resulting in environmentally sustainable and economic alternatives for bridges where conventional methods may have been less suitable.

• The use of geopolymer concrete in buildings and infrastructure is now a reality in Australia, and is world leading in many respects. Government

authorities such as Vic Roads are showing initiative in this area, as are commercial organisations, which has led to the construction of structures such as the Climate Change Institute and infrastructure such as the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport in Toowoomba.

• Outstanding examples of architectural concrete in buildings and structures that also require a high level of technical expertise to ensure that the concrete performs appropriately. Examples in

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www.mi-mep.com.au 46

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

CONCRETE INSTITUTE NEWS

The Burdekin Falls Dam in Ayr, Queensland

"Anyone who has been fortunate enough to travel through Europe and seen some of the Roman concrete structures will understand what good workmanship looks like, even though some structures were built 2000 years ago.”

recent times include the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra and the Age of Dinosaurs Museum in Winton, to name but two.

• The application of prefabricated modular construction methods, including the use of shotcrete to construct a concrete core and shear walls in multi-level buildings.

This requires a new way of thinking for shotcrete application in this country – both from a mix design perspective and methodology.

• World leading practice in the manufacture and application of precast concrete for infrastructure projects, using innovative production methodology to provide the highest quality concrete for high end solutions to project needs and requirements.

• Research into concrete durability has taken giant strides and the knowledge on exposure significance, deterioration processes, materials properties, and workmanship implications has developed significantly. This has resulted in world leading durability design practices being developed, including durability modelling methods, and new construction techniques being introduced.

These innovations, and many others, demand that the industry be focused, knowledgeable, and willing to take a chance in challenging established products and procedures. It also means that we must be armed with the essential knowledge of a material that may look simple but can be incredibly complex.

The concrete construction industry in Australia has a history that is based on hard work and sound knowledge. As we continue to use more and more of the world’s second most used substance in today’s changing landscape, more than ever we must ensure that everyone has the basic knowledge of this complex material called concrete.

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Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

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NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

NEW PROVISIONAL PRECASTER MEMBERSHIP PROVES SUCCESSFUL A new National Precast membership category - Provisional Precaster membership - is now available for Australian manufacturers of factorymade precast concrete products. According to National Precast’s CEO Sarah Bachmann, the new category of membership is available for precasters who want to experience the benefits of membership before committing to a full membership.

“It can be difficult for precasters who aren’t members of National Precast, to fully understand the value of membership and that’s why we introduced Provisional Precaster membership.

Now they can join our member community for up to two years and try a limited range of services at a reduced cost.

“Being able to get together regularly with other precasters and suppliers at our quarterly events, being kept up-to-date with what’s going on in the industry and having us here to help, really do make a precaster’s life easier,” Ms Bachmann said.

and building professional relationships”.

Mr Foster says he’s particularly enjoyed the networking aspect of provisional membership and being involved in presentations, meetings and committees.

Others are following suit, with BridgePro, Outback Sleepers, Vision Precast and MILCast applying for membership in recent times.

“We’re overwhelmed with the response. It’s part of our strategy to be more representative of the industry,” Ms Bachmann said.

With one category for smaller precasters (operating in one state and with under 30 employees) at $2,500pa, and another for larger precasters at $6,000, finding out what membership is all about has become a lot more affordable.

Meanwhile, full Precaster membership gives access to all of the benefits offered to members.

25 YEAR MEMBER DUGGANS GETS MASSIVE BENEFIT

from both Precaster Members and Industry Supplier Members. We learn through the education and information sessions at meetings and from the regular newsletters we receive. And for a relatively small precast company like Duggans, we use National Precast for much of our marketing and customer communication materials. The regular features we get in industry magazines, as well as the case studies we can hand to clients, really add value,“ said Mr Hardy.

“I can’t begin to recall the number of stories I’ve heard over the years about how being a part of the National Precast community has helped our members run their businesses better."

There are personal benefits as well. “Those include the networking, friendships and ‘business stress relief’ of attending a forum of a terrific bunch of people who are involved in your industry,” Mr Hardy said.

GENUINE REASONS TO JOIN

Brett Foster, Business Development Manager, Advanced Precast

Melbourne-based Advanced Precast is one precaster who is taking advantage of the new membership. The company’s Business Development Manager Brett Foster says Provisional membership is a good opportunity to experience National Precast membership.

“It’s allowing us to see what it’s all about in a cost-effective way,” Mr Foster said. “It gives us exposure in terms of introductions to other people in the industry so we can share what we do and our capabilities. There’s value in meeting others 48

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

Brent Hardy, General Manager, Duggans

Tasmanian-based member, Duggans Precast joined National Precast in 1991, to gain a better knowledge of precast manufacturing and the industry, in a bid to grow the business. General Manager Brent Hardy says when he joined Duggans in 2005, he became a very active participant in the Association. Mr Hardy wanted to improve his personal knowledge of the industry and assess if membership was value for money. 11 years later, Mr Hardy says there are plenty of positives.

“We get huge benefits by being aware of issues, improvements and happenings within the industry

Ms Bachmann can’t speak highly enough of Association membership. “After being in this role for 13, going on 14 years, I can now honestly say that those who have become members find it’s worth its weight in gold. Everyone joins for a different reason.

For some, it’s an insurance policy for when they need assistance. For others, it’s for the marketing and promotional benefits. For others it’s about credibility. And for many, it’s simply about staying ahead of the game, knowing what’s going on in the industry and forming very real friendships with people who get what they do.

“I can’t begin to recall the number of stories I’ve heard over the years about how being a part of the National Precast community has helped our members run their businesses better. From something they learned at a meeting, to a discussion with another member – it all helps to make life easier. Chances are, if someone has a problem, someone else, somewhere, has been through it before… and that’s where we come in.”

For more information about Provisional Precaster or Precaster membership, please visit: http://nationalprecast.com.au/precasters.

CONCRETE INSTITUTE of

Changes to australian stanDarD AS3850 — PrefabriCateD ConCrete elements

CHANGES TO AUSTRALIAN STANDARD AS3850 — PREFABRICATED CONCRETE ELEMENTS SEMINARS AUGUST 2016

 Dates PErTH 01 AuguST AdElAidE 02 AuguST BrisBAnE 03 AuguST HoBArT 08 AuguST MElBournE 09 AuguST sydnEy 10 AuguST

Proudly suPPorTEd By

AUSTRALIA

C

hanges to Australian Standard AS3850 — Prefabricated Concrete Elements looks at the reforms made to the industry and to the document formally known as AS3850 Tilt-up Concrete Construction.

This seminar will include an overview as to why AS3850 has been updated, the challenges associated with the previous version of the standard, and the improvements within the new standard. It will show how the update brings the standard in line with current industry practices and how it will help improve the uptake of precast concrete manufacture in Australia.

The seminar will also focus on the safety aspects of precast design and look at the role played by the “in-service” designer and the erection designer.

The seminar is a jointly organised event between the Concrete Institute of Australia and National Precast Concrete Association Australia.

Pricing

CIA Members National Precast Members Non-Members

$200 $200 $250

AgendA And TOPICS Changes to AS3850 — Prefabricated Concrete Elements

Presented by Jeff Stratford Jeff Stratford is the Business Manager ANZ Precast, Tilt-Up & Structural Steel ANZ for

ramsetreid and represents National Precast on the BD-066 committee charged with the review of AS3850. Jeff has been involved in precast and concrete for his entire working career and is dedicated to the long term safe and profitable growth of the prefabricated concrete element industry. In addition to his involvement in the main committee of BD-066 he is also the Chair of the BD-066 Testing and NCOP (National Code of Practice) sub-committees. Jeff’s presentation will include: • Reforms to the precast industry • Why the old standard needed updating • What’s in the new standard and why you need to know.

Safety in Precast Design

Presented by Kevin Crompton Kevin Crompton is the Director of Operations at Ultrafloor (Aust) and is based in their Sydney office. Kevin is a Member of the Board of National Precast Concrete Association Australia, and represented National Precast on the BD-066 committee. In terms of a philosophical approach to safety Kevin holds a very simple belief, being that everyone has a right to return to their home and loved ones at the end of each working day in a condition no worse than when they left for work. Kevin’s presentation will include: • Safety aspects of precast design • The role of the in service designer • The role of the erection designer.

To register or to find out more please visit http://www.concreteinstitute.com.au/ChangestoAS3850.aspx

NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

STATE-OFTHE-ART SUSTAINABLE DESIGN GE Headquarters, QLD PRECASTER: Austral Precast BUILDER: Kane Constructions ARCHITECT: Conrad Gargett ENGINEER: Meinhardt, Umow Lai As the national leader in sustainability and planning design, it comes as no surprise that the City of Greater Springfield was declared the World’s Best Master Planned Development by the FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation. What was initially one man’s dream, has blossomed into Australia’s fastest emerging new city.

Just 30 minutes south west of Brisbane’s CBD, the City has attracted $21 billion in private and public investment and has a population of over 30,000.

Founder and Chairman of Springfield Land Corporation Maha Sinnathamby’s vision of a community able to live, work, rest and play well, has been master planned around the interconnecting pillars of health, education and information technology.

The City’s approach to sustainability is why General Electric (GE) chose Springfield as the location for its new Queensland hub. GE joins the award winning Brookwater Golf and Country Club, Mater Private Hospital, the University of Southern Queensland, Orion Shopping Centre, two train stations, 10 schools, 11 childcare centres, just to name a few.

GE’s $72 million, 12,500 square metre state-of-the-art building is the base for GE’s Australian call centre and its Queensland power and water, mining, healthcare and transportation business units. The six storey, 15 000 square metre commercial office is home to 500 GE staff, with the capability of 700 more.

THE GREEN APPROACH With the City’s focus on the creation of green, environmentally friendly buildings, the GE Headquarters is no exception. The building, which features 50

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

a dark coloured precast concrete exterior, is not only aesthetically pleasing with its strong visual building signature; it has also accomplished its sustainability goals thanks to its clever design. The building’s Five Star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia and 4.5 star NABERS rating recognise not only the building’s minimal environmental impact, but also the strong design focus on reducing running and maintenance costs.

BACK TO BASICS DESIGN TICKS SUSTAINABILITY REQUIREMENTS A design competition for the site saw architect Conrad Gargett produce the initial concept and design, which was what won them and Kane Constructions the contract, but was also what secured GE as the anchor tenant. By going back to really basic building design principles, it was possible to achieve multiple sustainability ticks such as access to daylight and views across the floorplates. The bold L-shaped design certainly makes the most of the surrounding area. The shape gives majority of staff a view of the award winning Robelle Domain parklands, which connects to the ground floor plaza.

REDUCED HEATING & COOLING COSTS The strong focus on sustainability throughout the design process is one of the key reasons why precast concrete was used. National Precast member, Austral Precast was chosen after a competitive tender process to manufacture the precast panels for the façade. To assist in striving for the two ratings, the precast panels reduce the need for heating and cooling by adding thermal mass to the structure. The panels – which are also low maintenance - were made using reduced cement levels in concrete and recycled water.

Powering a Sustainable Future

TIGHT TIMEFRAME Due to the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tight timeframe and installation schedule, precast concrete was also used for its time saving benefits. The precaster was able to manufacture the components in their facilities as the site was being prepared, with the precast installed at just the right time.

Not only is the building perfectly tailored to its tenant, the building has caught the eye of those in the industry. The GE Headquarters won the best commercial building over $5 million at the 2015 Brisbane Master Builders Awards and the Queensland State Award for Commercial Buildings over $5 million.

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Research for your global future

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

51

NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

edge facilities will be the largest marine research capability in the Indian Ocean rim.

The building and redevelopment of these two facilities is the brainchild of the Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre partnership. As the leading marine science partnership in the Southern Hemisphere, its partners include the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the CSIRO, the University of Western Australia, and the Western Australian Department of Fisheries.

Funding through these partnerships, as well as a grant from the Australian Government has made the development of the Research Centre possible.

ESD AIMS FOR 5 STAR RESULT

AUSTRALIA DIVES HEAD FIRST INTO MARINE RESEARCH

Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, WA

PRECAST MANUFACTURER: Delta Corporation CLIENT: University of Western Australia BUILDER: BGC Constructions ARCHITECT: Ferguson Architects ENGINEER: Arup Vast and untapped – the Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean in the world yet is one of the least explored marine environments. This biodiversity hotspot is home to many species of fish, invertebrates and other organisms – over 80 percent of which are not found elsewhere in the world. Research into the effective management, sustainability and the conservation of marine resources within the Indian Ocean is critical to support economic growth and prosperity in Australian and along the Indian Ocean rim.

With the help of a brand new research centre - being built with precast concrete - Australia’s research into the Indian Ocean is about to be revolutionised.

Located on the University of Western Australia’s (UWA) Crawley Campus, the Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre will be the new hub for more than 240 researchers, conducting intensive research into a variety of areas, including climate change, physical oceanography, conservation strategies and modelling coastal dynamics. The facility will work alongside the newly refurbished Research Centre at Watermans Bay. Combined, the two cutting 52

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

The $62 million Marine Research Centre has been designed to maximise the building’s life and life cycle costs, and will be constructed to meet environmentally sustainable development principles and UWA’s commitment to sustainability. The Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre is aiming to be awarded a 5 Star Green Star Rating when the building is complete.

The building was designed with this in mind and the precast concrete plays a key role in achieving this. Through an innovative concrete mix design, Delta was able to meet a 15% reduction in Portland cement use while still maintaining a consistent colour controlled architectural concrete.

A PRACTICAL AND ARTISTIC DESIGN As well as being sustainable, the Centre has been tailored to cater to the needs of researchers, technicians and post-graduate students. The six-storey purpose-built marine research facility includes flexible wet and dry laboratories, loading bays, technical areas, outdoor undercover field staging and boat storage. The ground level features a multi-purpose lecture theatre, connected to a large interaction space with an external courtyard.

The facility will also be home to the Centre for Offshore Foundations Systems and a new centrifuge, which will operate the National Geotechnical Centrifuge Facility.

NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

“Knowing the importance of the research that will be conducted here, we feel privileged to have been part of this important project."

As well as being a practical building for its tenants, the Research Centre exudes marine life in its stunning appearance. National Precast member, Delta Corporation won the tender to manufacture various precast elements for the structure.

Delta supplied both architectural walling panels and Deltacore hollowcore flooring planks for the main building and the southern storage facilities.

Working closely with Ferguson Architects, the precaster was able to achieve a very high quality architectural finish to the precast. Key elements of the building’s nautical design are featured in the panels. Six of the panels on the main building form a stunning feature with gently curving vertical lines inspired by Kelp and schools of fish swimming between. The panels perfectly

embody the Research Centre, its researchers and students, in a delicate and artistic way. This detailed design gives the panels a debossed appearance, created with the use of a base form liner coupled with bespoke moulded inserts. It involved many hours of precise and meticulous setting-out during the casting process to achieve the end result.

The feature panels, which each weighed approximately 14 tonne, cover almost 200 square metres of the façade and are surrounded by 114 panels. These are cream coloured panels with a timber boarded finish cast from timber-lined forms, which add interest and are in keeping with the existing buildings on the Crawley Campus.

Delta also manufactured 53 wall panels for the southern storage facilities, which tie into the main building with the same timber boarded finish.

Precast can also be found inside, encapsulating the highly specialised geotechnical centrifuge.

Delta’s Executive Director Matt Perrella is extremely proud of the precast contribution to the development.

“Knowing the importance of the research that will be conducted here, we feel privileged to have been part of this important project. It is always an achievement creating beautiful precast, and in this case it will help researchers to lead the way in scientific exploration of the Indian Ocean,” Mr Perrella said.

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NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

less material, reduces environmental impact. This was an important factor for the new Library and Heritage Centre, which is a 5 Star Green Starrated building.

CHANGING THE STREETSCAPE OF GEELONG

LANDMARK BUILDING CHANGES GEELONG LANDSCAPE

Geelong Library and Heritage Centre

PRECAST GRC: Asurco Contracting BUILDER: Kane Constructions ENGINEER: Reid Engineering Services ARCHITECT: ARM Architecture CLIENT: Geelong City Council The new Geelong Library and Heritage Centre is being hailed a landmark building for Victoria’s second largest city. The nine-storey stateof-the-art facility is a spectacular addition to Geelong’s cultural and architectural landscape.

Its unique dome design and precast Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC) cladding is central to the architecture of this ambitious $45.5 million project.

PRECAST GLASS REINFORCED CONCRETE Adelaide-based National Precast member Asurco Contracting manufactured the GRC for this exciting development. 332 panels were produced in the company’s Royal Park factory and carefully transported to Geelong. The GRC is easy and fast to handle, according to Asurco’s Des Pawelski.

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“While the GRC is light-weight, it retains the enduring qualities of concrete. It’s so flexible in its design and finish, which means it’s suited to varying architectural styles,” Mr Pawelski said.

The Geelong Library and Heritage Centre is an impressive demonstration of the flexibility of GRC. In this case, the GRC was manufactured complete with a secondary steel sub frame and then bolted to the primary structure to create the domed façade. “Our factory produced panels in various sizes up to 3.5m,” said Mr Pawelski. “The dome panels are asymmetrical and geometrically pentagonal or hexagonal. Our team managed well with the designs as well as the production schedule”.

NEW AND OLD BLEND The panels were designed to serve two purposes.

They reinforce the appearance of the curve of the domes and they allow the building to complement the surrounding masonry buildings. The panels were finished in a palette of four muted browns, with the pattern aiming to accentuate the crest of the dome. The colours link the new building with the surrounding historic architecture, while also staying true to the structure’s own distinctive aesthetics.

The GRC not only looks visually stunning, it’s also designed to be long lasting and environmentally friendly. GRC is durable and strong and will last as long as conventionally reinforced precast concrete. The lightweight material also saves transport costs and by using

The new building was opened in late 2015 as a community hub for the city. Mr Pawelski says it was satisfying to be involved in such a landmark structure. “It’s rewarding for our company to showcase our GRC production capabilities as part of a contemporary and relevant development, which is so important to the people of Geelong,” he said.

The new spherical structure has been likened to something from “Star Wars”, a soccer or golf ball and even a “big brain”. But no matter how it’s labelled, there’s community agreement the Library and Heritage Centre is a building that will forever change the skyline and cultural landscape of Geelong.

NO DOWNSIDE TO PRECAST FLOORING, SAYS BUILDER Vibe On Wellington Apartments

NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

formwork is then fitted with reinforcement mesh, and concrete is poured and screeded to the finished height. It’s a simple and basic process, which, is slow and in turn costly. By contrast, our flooring system combines the speed of precast elements with the considerable structural qualities of a monolithic floor slab,” Mr Nearhos said.

THE PROCESS EXPLAINED The precast concrete planks are manufactured in lengths up to 12 metres and a standard width of 2.5 metres. Thicknesses vary from 60mm to 75mm and 90mm, to suit the required loading specifications. Like all precast concrete products, each unit is custom made, with dimensions to specifications. The plank is reinforced and also has multiple rows of triangular truss reinforcement (steel lattice girders) following the length of the plank. These are embedded into the precast plank and significantly increase both the strength and the unpropped span of the flooring.

PRECAST MANUFACTURER: Austral Precast DEVELOPER: Vibe on Wellington CLIENT: Next Generation Homes BUILDER: Ren Constructions ARCHITECT: Campion Design Group ENGINEER: Peritas Group East Perth’s restaurant and café precinct boasts a new hotspot thanks to the recently constructed eight story apartment building, located in Wellington St. The development of Vibe Apartments reflects the inner suburb’s increase in popularity, offering 60 apartments, mostly one and two bedrooms. The building will also have five two-storey penthouses, a gym, pool, and two levels of parking, as well as a rooftop garden, outdoor theatre and viewing deck to make the most of the location.

As well as manufacturing 736 precast wall panels, 75 upstands and 28 precast stairs for the project, National Precast member Austral Precast’s Austral Deck floor system was also incorporated in the design.

FLOORING OFFERS LIGHT, FAST, SAFE SOLUTION Like other precast flooring systems, Austral Deck (also known as Transfloor or other proprietary names when supplied by other manufacturers) offers a lightweight, fast, safe, flexible and economical flooring solution. In this particular case, 533 flooring planks were supplied for the project and, combined with the other precast elements that were supplied, they offered a significant boost to the project’s progress.

According to Austral Precast’s General Manager Andrew Nearhos, precast flooring offers a superior suspended flooring solution in every regard.

“Conventional suspended concrete floor slabs are cast in situ on a formwork base, sometimes timber or often a metal ‘tray,’ which is supported at frequent intervals by a forest of props. The

Construction Engineering Australia - June 2016

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NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

Mr Nearhos says that like other precast flooring systems, cast-in items, such as ferrules, conduits, and other service fittings and penetrations, can be incorporated during manufacture.

“This is a great benefit on site, because the majority of the work is done in the factory. As well, void formers can be placed and secured on top of the planks, which reduces the concrete required for the in situ pour, typically by 30 per cent,” he said.

After curing, the flooring planks are then transported to site and craned into position, instantly creating a strong, safe working surface that will easily carry the load of trades and their materials. A layer of reinforcing mesh is then positioned and tied, and a layer of concrete poured and screeded to the finished height. The result is a strong, composite floor slab, with the structural benefits of a conventional monolithic slab.

BUILDER SINGS PRECAST'S PRAISES Rodney Naef of Ren Construction has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to building with precast, both walling and flooring.

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“It’s quick,” he said, “very quick.” Mr Naef describes the preparation required for a conventional in situ monolithic slab as “time consuming.”

“Basically, we’d be up there for three weeks trying to deck it out,” Mr Naef said.

“With this flooring system we’d be backpropping for a day, maybe a day-and-a-half, and the next day you’ve got a whole level covered.”

According to Austral, an average of ten flooring deck planks covering an area of 150 square metres can be installed per hour. The flooring planks then create a safe new workspace to continue construction.

“You’ve got a nice, clean, safe working deck straight away for everybody to start working on,” Mr Naef said. “On this job we have floorplates of about 900 square metres each and we are doing a floor level basically every eleven working days. So it goes in fast.”

From his experiences, Mr Naef does not see any downsides to using this kind of flooring.

“Do you know what, I can’t think of any, to be honest,” Mr Naef said. He said it’s a little more costly on a material per square metre basis than a conventional in situ slab, but that is quickly recouped in time and speed. “I can’t really give a negative on the system,” he said.

Steel Compliance.

If you don’t check for it, you might as well chuck it.

A factory production once-off assessment is not enough to assure steel compliance.

• As construction professionals using non-compliant steel could be your worst decision.

• E ngineers, certifiers or suppliers have the responsibility and power to refuse the use of unidentifiable or non-compliant steel.

• You manage the risk to human safety, reputation, livelihood and cost.

• Check your steel products’ compliance to AS/NZS Standards and building codes.

• Control your risks of non-compliance and reduce your liability through simple web downloads of ACRS Certificates at www.steelcertification.com

Don’t overlook steel compliance, look into ACRS first.

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

ACRS – Independent Third Party Australasian Standards Certification & Verification of Reinforcing, Prestressing & Structural Steels Compliance.

OUR EXPERIENCE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; YOUR KEY TO SUCCESS Echo Precast Engineering is an internationally reputed manufacturer of machines and equipment for the production of pre-stressed concrete products.

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Echo Precast Engineering N.V. Centrum-Zuid 1533 - 3530 Houthalen (BE) Tel +32 11 60 0800 Fax +32 11 52 2093 www.echoprecast.com