Interview: Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, SNR. design management eng., Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy – PG. 30
issue 2.1
January 2015
TECHNICAL
Application of Value Engineering in the field of construction
WINDS OF CHANGE Moving from conventional to sustainable heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in Qatar
Q&A
What is the role of construction sector in Qatar’s national sustainability agenda?
PLUS:
Risks attached to the commonly-practised decennial liability in Qatar Law
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Qatar University’s unique façade is inspired by traditional wind catchers. Standing at varying heights, these wind towers come with four openings designed with geometrical patterns. (Image FotoArabia)
contents JANUARY 2015
www.qatarconstructionnews.com
Cover Story VibrantGlobal.pdf
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A large part of the energy consumed in Qatar goes into the heating, WINDS OF CHANGE ventilation and airconditioning (HVAC) components. By changing conventional HVAC practices to encourage sustainable solutions, Qatar can substantially improve environmental quality. QCN’s Farwa Zahra speaks to HVAC experts in Qatar, discussing the past, present and future of sustainable HVAC here. (Image by Ashley Jardina) INTERVIEW: ABDULAZIZ ALI AL MAWLAWI, SNR. DESIGN MANAGEMENT ENG., SUPREME COMMITTEE FOR DELIVERY & LEGACY – PG. 30
issue 2.1
January 2015
TECHNICAL
Application of Value Engineering in the field of construction
Moving from conventional to sustainable heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in Qatar
Q&A
What is the role of construction sector in Qatar’s national sustainability agenda?
PLUS:
Risks attached to the commonly-practised decennial liability in Qatar Law
Regulars
18. 28.
30.
From the Editor - 6 Construction News - 8 Guest Column - 16 Legal - 42 Qatar Tenders - 44
36.
TECHNICAL Value Engineering can help reduce cost of construction
INTERVIEW Is Qatar on the right track ahead of the 2022 World Cup?
Q&A Construction sector for Qatar’s sustainability agenda
Value Engineering (VE) is about using alternatives for original parts or materials and, in doing so, achieving cost reduction, improved performance or both. Dr. Eun Gyu Choi of CS Structural Engineering International looks into the application of VE in construction, particularly in the field of structural engineering.
From the number of stadiums proposed for the 2022 World Cup to the timing of the tournament, Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, senior design management engineer, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, discusses updates on Qatar’s preparations for the World Cup and how it aligns with its national vision in an exclusive interview with QCN.
Addressing the challenge of a growing carbon footprint involves pursuing the agenda of sustainable development on a national level. In an exclusive interview with QCN, Darin Rovere, president of Sustainability Excellence, discusses some aspects of Qatar’s national sustainability agenda with a special focus on the country’s construction sector.
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تكـنـو بروجـكت انترناشـيونال
editor’s letter It is not unusual to see redundant use of electricity in Qatar. Looking at Doha’s skyline at any time during the night, you might find seemingly unnecessary lighting. Excessive airconditioning is another reality. With minimal amount of earnings going into utility bills, thanks to subsidies via Qatar’s rich hydrocarbon reserves, the motivation to save energy remains low. In March last year, Kahramaa introduced an app for smartphones aimed at enhancing accuracy of electricity bills. Through this app, users can take pictures of their meters and send them directly to Kahramaa. However, the question of motivation prevails. How many people would take out time to send meter readings when even a considerable difference does not translate into substantial savings? Inefficient use of energy is not merely a capacity concern in the long term. A more serious repercussion of the issue lies in the fact that using energy excessively, often redundantly, is detrimental to the country’s natural habitat. Eventually, low energy cost is not only discouraging conservation efforts at the individual level but is simultaneously promoting developers to continue with conventional building practices, mostly unsustainable in nature. While all government buildings are mandated to have green features in
2016, only time will tell when the law becomes a reality for a much larger share of Doha’s construction comprising nongovernment buildings. In this issue’s cover story on page 18, we discuss Qatar’s heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) sector, which makes up more than half of the country’s energy demand. While much of Qatar’s current HVAC market is unsustainable, it was not always the same. The country’s traditional architectural feature of wind catchers left zero carbon footprint. Continuing this legacy and evolving it with advanced technology, Qatar can bring the “winds of change” by cutting down the use of hydrocarbons going in to the country’s HVAC sector. On page 24, Doha-based HVAC expert Prasanth Chakkingal shares some key considerations when designing a project with sustainable HVAC. As 2015 begins, Qatar is only a year away to reach Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-2016, an imperative element of which is sustainability. Indeed, 2015 will be crucial not just in terms of construction activities but also how effectively the sector deals with Qatar’s foremost concern of sustainability. For more on Qatar’s construction scene, keep reading QCN.
Farwa Zahra Editor
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Read QCN. Online. Get updates on leading projects shaping Qatar’s booming construction industry. Find out more about upcoming events and tenders and read expert opinions and articles on architecture, materials, technology, project management, infrastructure, sustainability and more.
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Construction
The renovated Shera News original design with sign
“The external landscaped areas, beaches and pools were demolished and rebuilt to high standards.� Mohamad Moataz Al Khayyat, CEO, Khayyat Contracting & Trading Group.
construction news
aton Doha reflects nificant upgrading
After its renovation, Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel features the same number of rooms and facilities that have been upgraded to better standards. (Image Khayyat Contracting & Trading)
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Opened in 1982, Qatar’s iconic Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel started renovation works earlier in 2014 revamping both the exterior and interior of the hotel while maintaining its original features. With the restoration works complete, the hotel reopened in December 2014. Mohamad Moataz Al Khayyat, chief executive officer of Khayyat Contracting & Trading Group – the group involved in the renovation works – shares with QCN some details of this restoration project. In February last year, Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel celebrated its 32nd anniversary. Following that, the hotel announced indefinite closure for renovation works, which completed when the hotel opened recently in December 2014. QCN approached Mohamad Moataz Al Khayyat, chief executive officer of Khayyat Contracting & Trading Group, the group that was involved in carrying out the renovation works of the project, providing services through its companies in the areas of interior design, joinery, marble works, aluminium works, facility management, logistics, supply of furniture and equipment and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) works. Sharing details of the project, Al Khayyat said, “Our client required the hotel and convention centre to be renovated to reflect its original interior design, whilst replacing and upgrading all mechanical, electrical, plumbing and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) systems. In addition, the external landscaped areas, beaches and pools were demolished and rebuilt to high standards.” The scope of the works recently carried out, Al Khayyat said, did not involve any building extensions or the addition of rooms to the complex, but did involve the removal and replacement of all existing furniture, flooring, wall finishes, kitchens, ceilings, lights and MEP systems utilising high-quality systems, materials and luxury furnishings. The hotel offers 371 guest rooms and suites, including 64 luxurious suites. Discussing more about the restoration works, Al Khayyat told QCN, “We carried out structural repairs during the course of the works, together with architectural and interior finishing works to ensure that the hotel reflects its original design, but with better quality systems, finishing and furnishings.” Sheraton Hotel is one of the most iconic landmarks for Qatar, which explains why the renovation works focused more on restoration than extension. To maintain its iconic value for the country’s landscape, the exterior of the building was preserved, as it was when the hotel opened in 1982. “The external façade of the hotel looks the same, however, it has been repaired and repainted, and of course all the windows are replaced with new,” said Al Khayyat. “Externally, we have removed the existing landscaping and pools and replaced with new.” The pools are similar in configuration to the original ones, while additional facilities have been added and the hard and soft landscaping has been substantially upgraded, he added. QCN | January 2015
Construction 10
section
News
Industry Views
QCN approached a number of professionals to ask about some of the most attractive upcoming projects in Qatar. Here is what they had to say.
SHARQ CROSSING: QATAR’S MOST AMBITIOUS ENGINEERING PROJECT Doha Sharq Crossing is the most ambitious engineering project ever undertaken in the Middle East and one of the most iconic and prestigious bridge-tunnel connections in the world, Ashghal’s Carlos Riera Planells tells QCN. The crossing consists of three iconic bridges, ranging in length from 600 to 1310 metres, linked by an eight kilometre immersed tube which spans the area of Doha Bay. It provides links between the new Hamad International Airport (HIA), Katara Cultural Village and West Bay. The project features three key bridges and tunnel links. West Bay Bridge: This bridge will be located between the Sheraton and Four Seasons hotels, consisting of a two-deck arched structure that incorporates a park accessed via an elevated walkway and funicular cableway, extending to an island of terraced levels providing recreational facilities. The longitudinal park will extend through an elevated walkway, from the proposed Corniche Park to the bridge portal island offshore from the West Bay area. Cultural City Bridge: The Katara entranceway will be between the cultural village and the St. Regis Hotel. It comprises a series of cable-stayed structures that skim across the bay in a pattern of descending
scales creating a long bridge, thus reducing the lengths of the submerged tunnel links. Sharq Bridge: This tubular structure will connect to Ras Abu Abboud Street near the new HIA. While necessarily of low profile to accommodate air traffic, the bridge offers a novel, sleek conceptual form providing new visitors to Doha with their first stunning view of the city’s waterfront skyline. Submerged tunnel links: Connecting each of the three bridges, the immersed tube tunnels are designed to meet the international traffic management and safety requirements. The tunnels will be offlimits to vehicles carrying heavy goods. The immersed tube tunnel link running between HIA and West Bay consists of three lanes in each direction, and two lanes in each direction between West Bay and Katara. Apart from being an architectural and engineering masterpiece, Sharq Crossing will be able to handle 6000 vehicles per hour which will take pressure off the Corniche and adjacent roads, while providing an important new artery to Doha’s road network. Qatar is now moving forward with the project and aims to open it by 2021, as the project is planned to receive visitors to the 2022 World Cup events.
“2015 is going to be the year for the Qatar 2022 Stadium and Precinct build programme to really make its mark here, as construction ramps up across the portfolio.” Chris Scudamore, partner, PwC Qatar, says that having the chance to contribute to the delivery of the 2022 World Cup – whether it be the construction itself, or the related strategic or economic development projects – is both a great experience from a professional standpoint while also directly contributing to the national development of Qatar.
January 2015 | QCN
“Sharq Crossing will be able to handle 6000 vehicles per hour, which will take pressure off the Corniche and adjacent main roads.”
Carlos Riera Planells is Roads Safety Engineer-2 at Roads Operations and Maintenance Department of Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’.
“Among Qatar’s iconic projects is the Doha Metro, the Sharq Crossing and the various football stadiums. All these are attractive as they invariably will have a lasting impact on the cityscape of Doha, and will be a big boost to its development in the years to come.” Mohamed Al Khayyat, CEO, Al Khayyat Contracting and Trading, also mentions the Doha Grand Park, now called Al Bidda Park, covering an area of 2.5 million square metres with expansive green landscapes with lakes, hotels and cafes.
construction news
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QATAR’S BOOMING PROJECT MARKET at a glance VALUED AT MORE THAN USD200 BillioN DOHA, LUSAIL AND DUKHAN HIGHWAYS
AL KARAANA PETROCHEMICAL PACKAGE 2 A USD6.4 billion joint venture between QP and UK/Dutch Shell.
The project is worth USD20 billion.
LOCAL ROADS AND DRAINAGE PROGRAMME Worth USD14.6 billion, it includes the upgrade of existing roads at an estimated cost of USD8 billion.
IDD EL-SHARGI NORTH DOME EXPANSION PHASE 5 (ISDN PHASE-5) BY QATAR PETROLEUM The project has USD7.4 billion worth of prospects.
NEW PORT PROJECT
Scheduled to be completed by 2016, the project is valued at USD7 billion.
GAS-TO-LIQUIDS PLANT: PHASE 2 BY ORYX GTL
The project has an estimated worth of USD1.5 billion, it includes contraction of GTL trains.
IDRIS SCHEMES
Worth USD2.5 billion, the project brings future project opportunities to overhaul Doha’s sewage infrastructure.
NORTH FIELD MONO ETHYLENE GLYCOL PIPELINE PROJECT BY RASGAS
Includes construction of a 185-kilometre-long pipeline including well head platforms at the North field.
SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS Worth USD9 billion, it includes healthcare projects worth USD1.5 billion and education projects worth USD7.5 billion. (Qatar Education City)
AL SEJEEL PETROCHEMICAL COMPLEX AROMATICS AND MIXED FEED FROM QP AND QAPCO The project is worth USD7.4 billion.
REAL ESTATE SCHEMES
KAHRAMAA WATER SECURITY MEGA RESERVOIRS AND MESAIEED IWPP The project is worth USD2 billion.
QATAR INTEGRATED RAIL PROJECTS
Worth USD35 billion, the project includes the USD15 billion Doha Metro Project, and the same-sized mainline freight and passenger networks.
With a total worth of USD56.8 billion, major real estate schemes include Lusail City, Barwa City, Al Waab City mixed-use developments and Doha Festival City Phase 2.
FIFA WORLD CUP 2022 STADIUMS
Multiple contracts to be awarded from 2015 to 2019 for projects worth USD4 billion.
Source: MEED
QCN | January 2015
Construction
News
Doha’s new F-Ring Road to relieve traffic congestion
The F-Ring Road is an eight-lane carriageway, with four lanes in each direction, along with a two-lane service road on either side.
JANUARY’s big number
For traffic flow between Al Thumama Area and its surroundings, and the Airport Street, Ashghal has announced the opening of the F-Ring Road. The road will also facilitate the traffic flow heading to Hamad International Airport (HIA). Currently, complimentary
HIA 3rd phase to cost usd3 billion
17.9%
In the first half of 2014, Qatar’s construction sector progressed at a growth rate of 17.9 percent, according to a recently released update of Qatar Economic Outlook 2014 – 2016, which also forecasts the upward trend to continue through the outlook period. The report further suggests that the construction sector contributed 201 percentage points of real GDP growth of 6.3 percent. “As was the case in the first half of 2014, construction is expected to continue recording the strongest growth among all economic sectors during the projection period,” states the updated document.
works in some service roads and cycle pathways, as well as landscaping works, are in progress, which will have no effect on the traffic flow of the main carriageway, which is an eight-lane carriageway, with four lanes in each direction, in addition to a two-lane service road on both sides.
The third phases of the Hamad International Airport (HIA) is expected to cost USD3 billion (QAR11 billion), according to a recent announcement by Qatar Civil Aviation Authority’s Chairman Abdul
Azeez Al Noaimi (pictured). Al Noaimi further informed that the airport will have the expanded capacity to accommodate 53 million passengers a year upon the completion of extension works. Currently, with its first phase operational, the airport can accommodate up to 30 million passengers a year. The second phase of HIA was recently approved by HE the Prime Minister & the Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Awards
Key recent contracts awarded in Qatar • The consortium, composed of FCC Aqualia and Hyundai, has successfully tendered for Ashghal’s project consisting in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the wastewater treatment facilities, wastewater pumping stations, transfer pumping station and collectors associated with the city of Al Dhakhira. • Qatar Kentz has been awarded a four-year multimillion-dollar calloff contract by Qatar Shell for its Pearl Gas-To-Liquids (GTL) onshore and offshore facilities in Qatar.
January 2015 | QCN
Kentz will manage the engineering, procurement and construction management work for all services related to plant changes, as well as minor, base and medium projects. • Gulf Warehousing Company has been awarded the right to develop the Bu Sulba Logistics Hub at an estimated cost of QAR685 million. The Bu Sulba logistics hub will be a selfcontained facility built on 517,376 square metres with the planned built-up area exceeding 40 percent of the total area. The Bu Sulba site is expected to provide its services to
the food and fast-moving consumer goods sector, with distribution mainly catering to the needs of south to central Doha stretching up to Gharaffa as well as in Wakra. • Barwa Real Estate Company has been awarded a tender to build, operate, and transfer low-cost warehouses for Manateq. Barwa will undertake the development of these low cost warehousing solutions within a period of 24 months and will lease them for 25 years. The total approximate cost of this project will amount to QR750 million.
construction news
Migrant workers at Msheireb Downtown celebrate Qatar’s national day As part of its activities in celebration of Qatar National Day, Msheireb Properties, a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation, held an onsite gathering at its Msheireb Downtown Doha development. Workers from across the Middle East, India, Pakistan, Nepal and the Philippines joined in by holding a giant Qatari flag
Enertech Jan15 QCN HHP.pdf
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with Msheireb Properties employees. Engineer Abdulla Hassan Al Mehshadi, CEO of Msheireb Properties, said, “We are proud to celebrate Qatar National Day with the people of Qatar, here in the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project, Msheireb Downtown Doha.”
1:11 PM
Workers gather at Msheireb Downtown Project, with some holding the country’s flag to mark Qatar’s national day.
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White Book on corporate social responsibility United Development Company (UDC) has signed a silver sponsorship agreement with Dar Al Sharq supporting the publication of the White Book Qatar 2014, issued annually to shed light on corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, activities and programmes emanating from organisations in Qatar. It will discuss cases of CSR applications not only from Qatar, but also selected best practices from around the region and the world. “The White Book is one of those vital reference books that will help demonstrate the importance of good citizenship, active community participation, sound environmental policies and good governance in improving transparency, safeguarding stakeholder interests and establishing a socially responsible and effective corporate culture in Qatar,” said Turki Al Khater, UDC’s chairman and managing director.
QCN | January 2015
NewsEvents Construction
1 – 4 February
11 – 12 February
Drainage and Offshore Specialized Sewerage Middle East and Construction Scheduled to be held at Vessels Summit InterContinental Doha, Drainage and Sewerage Middle East will provide opportunity to attend presentations, and know about new technologies and solutions for the advancement of storm water and waste water management. The four-day programme includes a two-day conference and exhibition and workshops on storm water management facilities, and effective flood management and planning.
10 – 11 March
Qatar Projects Conference Grand Hyatt, Doha
24 – 25 March 22 – 24 February
Façade Design & Engineering Middle East
27 – 28 January
The Energy Efficiency & Conservation Forum Hilton Doha
6 – 7 May
Future BIM Implementation
Major Projects and Infrastructure Qatar
Future BIM Implementation will provide a platform for the construction and infrastructure industry to debate the benefits and challenges of implementing BIM.
Model of new luxury residential property developments at the Pearl-Qatar in Doha on display at property trade fair in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Image Corbis)
To be held at InterContinental Doha – the City, Major Projects and Infrastructure Qatar will bring together a prestigious international speaker faculty to share insights and proven strategies on doing business in Qatar. The event will include areas of negotiating robust contract terms, effective management of the construction process to ensure minimum risk, managing the finance of the project effectively, and understanding and applying the best dispute resolutions methods.
January 2015 | QCN
Future BIM Implementation will be hosted at the 12th annual edition of Project Qatar. Driven by the enormous period of construction and development that Qatar is currently going through, interest in implementing BIM is rapidly growing. The Future BIM Implementation conference will focus on bringing together the relevant government authorities responsible for infrastructure developments, project owners, consultants, project managers, main contractors, sub-contractors, BIM experts and BIM technology providers to showcase examples of BIM implementation.
special promotion
15
QATAR FINANCIAL CENTRE: FACILITATING SUCCESS IN 2015 AND BEYOND Solid growth in Qatar’s construction sector is expected to continue throughout 2015, due in a large degree to the vast range of infrastructure projects, and driven in part by the major sporting events that the nation is preparing to host over the next few years. The continued expansion of the construction sector in 2014 helped fuel interest from an ever-widening array of firms, who perceive the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) as the ideal platform to support their expansion through business-friendly policies and regulations. As of the end of last year, local companies represented around 30% of QFC-licensed firms; a percentage that is forecast to grow in 2015. New regulations, enacted in 2014, give Qatari-owned entities the opportunity to opt for a zero tax rate to apply to their operations in the QFC. Simultaneously, non-financial service firms are being encouraged to establish a presence in the QFC which has brought in engineering consultants, recruitment agencies and sports marketeers
amongst others. QFC’s reforms are helping lay the ground for the thriving private sector to further bolster and diversify the Qatari economy beyond the oil and gas sector. The positive outlook for the private sector has been consistently reflected in the QFC-sponsored Business Optimism Index (BOI) for Qatar’s nonhydrocarbon sector, released by Dun and Bradstreet on a quarterly basis. In Q4, 2014, the BOI rose to 49, a 26% quarter-on-quarter increase, indicating an overall optimism in the finance, real estate and business services sectors, together with a positive outlook for the construction sector. As the nation’s economy rapidly evolves, the QFC remains fully committed to supporting its growing private sector. Significant investments that are expected in the construction, health, education, and technology sectors will undoubtedly create a wide range of business opportunities and prove fruitful to both the economy and to companies. The buoyant business activity driven by the QFC’s efficient and transparent
administrative process was the focus of a major 2014 advertising campaign dubbed “Great Success Comes From Great Support.” Featuring Qatari mountaineer Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani, Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti and Swedish tennis champion Bjorn Borg, the advertising campaign looked at the people behind these great achievements; the sherpa, coach and conductor who helped them on their path to success. The campaign garnered worldwide recognition and plaudits. The QFC continues to attract growing numbers of local firms whilst simultaneously providing incentives for regional and international companies to establish a presence in Qatar. As it looks froward in 2015 to further improving its offering and streamlining services, this trend is set to continue.
QCN | January 2015
16
sectioncolumn guest
Incorporating natural ecologies into Qatar’s urban landscape As Qatar continues to transform its skyline with ongoing construction and infrastructure projects, it must strive to take a sustainable approach to its changing landscape. This essentially means designers setting out to ensure that every landscape is left better off and healthier than they found it, writes Steven Velegrinis of Perkins+Will MENA.
Steven Velegrinis is the director of Urban Design+Landscape Architecture at Perkins+Will MENA.
The key way to incorporate natural ecologies in the Gulf is through clever use of water in any form – wastewater, air conditioning condensate, groundwater or storm water.
January 2015 | QCN
Doha’s present and future landscape is transitional. It is evolving from a preurbanised condition to a highly urbanised one in an impossibly short period of time. Its present landscape, like most transitional landscapes, is stuck between a historic and a future condition, and suffers from disconnection, inconsistency and poor provision of the right amenities. At the same time, the fact that development did not occur until very recently means that there are generally very good environmental conditions – sea water is relatively clean and beaches are eminently usable. Healthy mangroves, salt marsh and desert ecologies are located in close proximity to the city, so there is a great base to build from. What I see for the future of Qatar’s landscape is that it will play an instrumental role in the city with ecosystem services and infrastructure such as natural storm water management, wastewater recycling, carbon sequestration, energy generation and food security. The landscape of Qatar is being developed in a period of history where landscape architecture and green infrastructure is playing an increasingly significant role in relation to urban resiliency and climate change. Taking an optimistic view, this means the future landscape of Qatar can be one of the world’s best if developed carefully. Simply laying acres of grass and exotic trees will not achieve that promise. However, numerous projects in the region do show that we are moving in the right direction. Amid rapid urbanisation, a key concern for Qatar is to incorporate natural ecologies in its urban landscape. It is incredibly simple to incorporate natural and synthetic ecologies in all landscapes. Projects of every scale, from a single villa to a 50-square-kilometre river basin, can make use of natural ecologies. Eventually, it is about designers setting out to ensure that every landscape is left better off and healthier than they found it. The key way to incorporate natural ecologies in the Gulf is through clever
use of water in any form – wastewater, air conditioning condensate, groundwater or storm water. Water forms the basis of the most productive ecologies in the region like the mangroves of Al Khor or the salt marshes of Mesaieed. Another crucial element is ensuring that everything we do becomes part of a larger network. Always plan biodiversity corridors to connect from one patch to another so that people can continue the work that you start. One example could be planting dryland reed beds (instead of ornamental seasonal plants) by the side of highways and pumping wastewater into subterranean root zones for them to act as natural filters. This would deal with wastewater locally, return treated effluent as irrigation water and mean that you significantly reduce the amount of irrigation water used for roadside areas. Instead of pumping wastewater dozens of kilometres to a mechanical treatment plant and pumping it dozens of kilometres back as irrigation water, you have a smarter and a more sustainable system that guarantees green lush environments using native reeds like the phragmites reeds you find all over the region. Overall, in Qatar, there are a great many landscapes planned and underway that are improving the quality of landscape architecture in the country. A number of projects here have taken the green Infrastructure approach to landscape. Companies such as Qatar Foundation and Ashghal are pushing the boundaries of what landscape can be. I think one of the most interesting landscape projects is the experimental garden by Yara and Qafco testing the Sahara project. While I have not seen the results yet, it promises to combine food production, seawater irrigation, antidesertification and energy generation in one modular system. Combined with careful design of recreational spaces around it, I think this could be an absolute game changer in the evolution of the Gulf landscapes that could bring food security, sustainable use of water and responsible greening to every neighbourhood.
Winds of Wind catchers, featured in traditional Arab architecture, were natural means of ventilation, running on passive energy. Carrying on this legacy into the future, Qatar must incorporate sustainability in its HVAC sector, presently driven by electric power.
f Change Moving from conventional to sustainable heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in Qatar
Can the sustainable cooling methods of Arab yore inspire modern HVAC in Qatar? (Image by Ashley Jardina)
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cover story
With Doha emerging as the 12th most polluted city in World Health Organisation’s ranking for 2014, Qatar cannot afford to further increase its carbon footprint. The country generates 31,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity each year, while its power requirements stood at 6412 megawatts as of 2013, steadily growing over the years. A large part of the energy consumed goes into the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) components. Effectively, it means that by changing conventional HVAC practices to encourage sustainable solutions, Qatar can substantially improve its environmental quality. QCN’s Farwa Zahra speaks to some HVAC experts in Qatar, discussing the past, present and future of sustainable HVAC in the country.
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ccording to HVAC Market in GCC 2012-2016 by Research and Markets, the HVAC market in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.43 percent over the period 2012 to 2016. A key driver, analysts say, is the increasing construction activities in the region. On the positive side, the region is also growing in terms of sustainable HVAC systems. But why is there a need for Qatar to adopt sustainable means of HVAC?
Why sustainable HVAC? Oxford Business Group’s report Qatar 2014 suggests that the country generates 31,000 GWh of electricity each year. While currently in excess, the “demand will begin to outstrip supply by 2018 at current capacity”. According to the Qatar Electricity and Water Company, the country’s power requirements have increased from 3550 megawatts (MW) in 2007 to 6412 MW in 2013. A large part of Qatar’s current electricity supply goes into the HVAC component of the developments, further rising Doha’s position in the world ranking for most polluted cities. “Residential and commercial buildings in the GCC are estimated to use 70 to 80 percent of the energy that is generated, out of which 60 to 70 percent is used for climate control,” says Daniele Cerutti, general manager, Knauf Exeed Insulation. Explaining the connection between sustainable HVAC and energy consumption, Vasanth Kumar, chief executive officer of Arabian MEP Contracting, says, “Since HVAC systems alone consume approximately 70 percent of electrical load in the Middle East, even a small saving means a lot in terms of sustainability as it will substantially reduce carbon footprint.” Apart from energy efficiency, HVAC January 2015 | QCN
also significantly impacts water efficiency, indoor environment quality and operation and maintenance of a facility throughout its life. While the environmental impact of traditional HVAC is crucial for Qatar, another downside of these systems include their higher cost. “A generally high-level estimate regardless of the nature of buildings indicates that about 28 percent of the initial cost of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) segment is attributable to HVAC installations,” says Jaygopal Kottilil, senior manager, MEP Engineering, Tanween. The past As Qatar strives to reposition its growing HVAC market, it must be remembered that the country has a history of sustainable cooling techniques used in the Arab architecture. Known as ‘badgir’ in traditional Persian architecture, wind catchers have been used in Iran and the Arab world since early times. The Iranian cities of Yazd are marked with a distinctive feature of badgirs rising above the roofs shaping their unique architectural landscape. Also known as ‘malqaf’ in the Arab world, the wind catcher technology is also believed to have existed in Ancient Egypt. Walking through Souq Waqif’s thoroughfare, one finds examples of such wind catchers, representing traditional Arab architecture. Then there are works of modern construction such as Qatar University. What appear as structural units to enhance the buildings’ façade are in fact modern wind catchers. Standing at varying heights to catch maximum prevailing wind, these wind towers feature four openings each, adorned with geometrical patterns. Depending on passive wind, a badgir or malqaf provides a natural ventilation system. Designed with scoops or shafts rising above the roofs to catch strong wind,
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Atiqul Alam, senior mechanical engineer, KEO International Consultants, says that considering that buildings consume about 35 percent of the overall energy demand in Qatar, it is important to reduce the buildings’ U-value to cut down cooling loads in new projects.
Qatar University’s unique façade is inspired by traditional wind catchers. Standing at varying heights, these wind towers come with four openings designed with geometrical patterns. (Image FotoArabia) With zero carbon footprint, wind catchers were featured in traditional Arab architecture for HVAC purposes. Examples of these wind towers can be seen in Doha at places such as Souq Waqif. (Image FotoArabia)
“Residential and commercial buildings in the GCC are estimated to use 70 to 80 percent of the energy that is generated, out of which 60 to 70 percent is used for climate control,” Daniele Cerutti.”general manager, Knauf Exeed Insulation.
QCN | January 2015
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cover story passing it through the interior space, and eventually building up pressure to release the hot air out. A badgir, thus, works both as an air-conditioning and exhaust system. The air entering the interior can be channelled across various spaces through individual openings, while cutting down energy consumption.
The present
About 28 percent of the initial cost of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) segment is attributable to HVAC installations,” says Jaygopal Kottilil, senior manager, MEP Engineering, Tanween.
Effective as it may seem, wind catchers and shades are not the only sustainable ventilation and aircooling systems. Using some of the most advanced sustainable HVAC practices is the Doha Festival City project, currently under construction to emerge as Qatar’s largest mall. Providing details of the project’s sustainable HVAC features, Prasanth Chakkingal, lead mechanical engineer at Arabian Engineering Bureau, says that skylights in the mall’s corridors are provided through glazing in the vertical wall rather than roof skylight. This design feature, he adds, will help avoid direct transmission of solar energy in to the conditioned space. Complying to ASHRAE 62.1 2007 standards, there will be adequate fresh air for better indoor air quality, while the engineers are working to implement effective U-values (a measure of the rate of heat loss
“There are serious consequences of over-designed HVAC systems such as, occupying additional space and volume, loss of leasable/ saleable area; increased capital cost and operating cost, etcetera.” – Jaygopal Kottilil, senior manager, MEP Engineering, Tanween.
70%
Approximate percentage of electricity consumers by HVAC systems in the Middle East.
The Pearl-Qatar is among Doha’s leading real estate projects relying on sustainable means of HVAC. It also houses the largest district cooling plant in the world.
January 2015 | QCN
cover story or gain through a construction) for walls, roofs and glazing. Furthermore, the AC condensate will be collected and used for irrigation. Similarly, treated sewage effluent (TSE) water will be used for Cooling Tower Makeup and blown down with minimal treatment to be used for irrigation. The fresh air fans and exhaust air fans have been provided with variable speed pumping in heat recovery units that shall be operated to 50 percent of their capacity during non-operational hours of the mall. Other projects using sustainable HVAC, Kumar mentions, include Lusail city, Mshereib Downtown project, Qatar Internal Security Force developments, Qatar Foundation, Qatar Rail and FIFArelated projects. “There are many such sustainable HVAC projects in Qatar and the biggest of all is Qatar Cool district cooling plants. They cover entire The Pearl-Qatar and major portion West Bay towers zone,” he adds.
The future Looking at the ongoing projects, the future of sustainable HVAC in Qatar seems promising. “From what it was some 10 years ago, I see considerable improvement now in Qatar. This is certainly encouraging, acknowledging the fact that Qatar is having rich reserves of energy,” says MEP’s Kottilil, who believes that an effective HVAC system is robust, reliable, sustainable, economical and safe. So, what can Qatar do to ensure these traits are part of its future HVAC market? The country is already utilising district cooling technology in some of its leading developments including The PearlQatar. Speaking about this technology’s effectiveness, Kumar says, “District cooling systems provides significant reduction in electrical consumption, up to 50 percent compared to traditional HVAC systems.” Atiqul Alam, senior mechanical engineer, KEO International Consultants, says a number of approaches lie ahead for Qatar to strengthen its green portfolio through HVAC. Considering that buildings consume about 35 percent of the overall energy demand in Qatar, he says, “The first approach we could take is to reduce the building U-value to cut down cooling loads in new projects. Currently an average
building U-value varies between 0.7 to 1.2 W/m2.K. If we could set up a minimum U-value target, for instance. 0.25 W/ m2.K, we could get three to five times more thermal efficient buildings.” Another suggestion he offers is to design and install sea water-based district cooling plants. Such projects can be integrated with a power generation plant and realise tri-generation principles where we can produce power, utilise byproduct heat and produce chilled water for district cooling. “In buildings, we could implement gas-powered fuel cells as a backup energy source. We could also set up minimum energy efficiency targets for HVAC equipment to further implement green HVAC solutions,” says Alam.
Challenges ahead While a number of approaches towards sustainable HVAC are there for Qatar to embrace and encourage, a number of challenges also lie ahead. “Owners, designers, contractors and facility operators, nowadays, appear to seriously address green issues in many of their projects. However, I firmly believe Qatar still has a long way to go,” says Kottilil, warning about the risks of over-engineering and over-designing HVAC. Over-designing, he says, results from our habits to remain safe in rudimentary engineering calculations, overuse of
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A large part of Qatar’s energy consumption goes into the HVAC component of buildings. (Image Arabian Eye/Reuters)
“If we could set up a minimum U-value target, we could get three to five times more thermal efficient buildings.” – Atiqul Alam, senior mechanical engineer, KEO International Consultants.
QCN | January 2015
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cover story
Eight design considerations for sustainable HVAC Like a traditional HVAC system, the key to achieve an effective sustainable HVAC system is by incorporating it right from the planning stage. Prasanth Chakkingal, lead mechanical engineer at Arabian Engineering Bureau, shares some key considerations when designing a project with sustainable HVAC. • Use an integrated design approach whereby key stakeholders such as architects, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, structural engineers, interior designers, clients, project management consultants/client representatives and sustainability engineers sit together from the conceptual stage and evolve the design. • Coordinate with the architects when finalising the building fenestration, and concluding the effective U-values for wall, roof and window/skylights. • Select HVAC equipment on a caseto-case basis with high coefficient of performance. For instance, watercooled chillers should be used where water is available and opting for variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system for air-cooled direct expansion (DX) units.
design margins and excessive application of safety margins. “There are serious consequences of over-designed HVAC systems such as, occupying additional space and volume, loss of leasable/saleable area; increased capital cost; increased operating cost due to inefficient operation of overspecified HVAC equipment; and increased utility (electricity and water) charges,” he says. Suggesting a solution to address this challenge, he says that a more rational and prudent approach is to understand the nature of a building’s perceived operational strategy and then set the design criteria to align with it. (See boxout: Eight design considerations for sustainable HVAC) Over-engineering, on the other hand, results from overspecifying materials, equipment and installation details, and can be addressed through value engineering. As many advanced approaches are yet to enter Qatar’s sustainable HVAC market, the ones currently being used are not short of problems. Explaining a complexity about district cooling technology, for instance, Kumar says, “The flipside of district cooling is that it can be implemented only for large real estate developments or mega projects, as it works on economy of scale.” Effectively, it means that Qatar needs to explore a variety of approaches for sustainable HVAC to ensure its practicality for all sorts of projects. These concerns, however, are only to mention a few. “There are several challenges but the two most crucial challenges are high cost and skills shortage,” concludes Kumar.
• Use treated sewage effluent (TSE) water for water-cooled systems and use blow-down/AC condensate drain with minimal treatment for irrigation purposes. • Provide pumps with variable speed pumping (VFDs) to optimise the energy. • Provide fresh air-handling/exhaust unit blowers with VFD and ramp down as required during non-operating hours based on actual demand of the project. • Employ heat recovery systems such as thermal wheel, heat pipe/ plate heat exchanger for optimising energy. • Incorporate adequate controls or building management systems to monitor the operation of the HVAC system according to the actual project requirement.
January 2015 | QCN
Despite increasing environmental concerns, traditional airconditioning in the form of standalone units is widely used in most residential developments across Doha.)
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advertorial
ENERTECH QATAR: REVAMPED FOR FURTHER EXCELLENCE
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nertech Qatar is the Middle East’s biggest Safety Training Centre with standards that are second to none. We have achieved local approvals here in Qatar, and unprecedented International accreditations from the likes of OPITO, NEBOSH, IOSH, ECITB, PADI, IASST, IEMA, IIRSM, IADC, IWCF. We are currently an ISO 9001, ISO 14001 & OHSAS 18001 certified company; approved by Qatar Petroleum, Ras Gas, Maersk Oil Qatar, Dolphin Energy, Total E&P for various HSE training’ – says Mr. Shareef P. Mohamed – MD of Enertech Qatar. Based at the heart of Doha, Enertech team understands the demanding and challenging working environments of Qatar and offers wide range of safety training as a response to the constant change in demand coming from the market. In the state-of-the-art training centre, classroom lectures and practical training sessions maintain a 40:60 ratio for most of the courses. Safety training is becoming an increasingly required qualification for almost every individual in today’s highly urbanized social setup. It is especially essential for professionals in or aspiring to be a part of the construction, oil & gas, industrial production sectors and the like. Enertech aims to help protect people who are the most
January 2015 | QCN
valuable asset of any organization, increase business profitability and mitigate risk through investment in training of employees, workers and even for safety individuals. In Qatar, the recent boom in construction has necessitated the availability of a dependable training institute that aptly meets the wide ranging requirements of the industry. Fortunately for Qatar, the presence of Enertech serves just that same objective – since 2005. That is why attention is given to responding the demand in Construction Safety Trainings, NEBOSH & IOSH Qualifications Training. The training standards of Enertech comply with internationally-approved norms of life-saving training programmes offered all over the world. The lecture halls, 15 training rooms, equipment and infrastructure of the academy are truly world class. The institute has imported and installed the latest equipment from the most reputed manufacturers of the field. Currently available facilities include construction practical area with scaffolding, working at heights and machine operators; two stories confined space entry simulator, 160 meters square fire ground, smoke house simulator, swimming pool with a helicopter simulator and
advertorial so on. Enertech Qatar is putting emphasise on consulting for additional improvements of the HSE culture among existing and potential clients. One way to do that is to promote investment in Project Management, Soft Skills, HR and ISO/ OHSAS qualifications and certifications. Additionally last year, a new field of training classes have been started - PADI Diving. Enertech Qatar is always actively seeking ways to increase the public awareness for safety with several campaigns. This year’s campaign is massive and it is
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aimed to reach every individual and company out there. In an attempt of returning value back to the same community that derives the safety training requirements – by offering Safety Awareness Signboards complimentary to all existing clients and interested parties. The content varies according to the safety issues that need to be addressed at each client/ interested party. The main focus leading up to the 2022 World Cup is shifting towards the metro line projects, stadiums construction projects, ports enhancements, construction of modern city areas and road and drainage infrastructure development. ‘At Enertech – we see our future in a very straight forward fashion. As Qatar’s most experienced training provider we must ensure that we satisfy all our clients’ demands for 2015. However, we recognize that we need to react to all the opportunities that Qatar’s continuing development will offer’ – says in conclusion Mr. Shareef.
Mr. Shareef P. Mohamed – MD of Enertech Qatar
Enertech Qatar will continue serving the market’s demands and will continue investing in new training and consultancy services through proactive and continuous discussions with the existing clients, interested parties and stakeholders. The aim is to be known best as being a ‘one stop shop’ for all training and HSE consultancy needs of the Qatar market.
www.enertechqatar.com www.facebook.com/Enertech Qatar Email: sales@enertechqatar.com | admin@enertechqatar.com T: +974 4401 0888
F: +974 4401 0889 QCN | January 2015
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technical
Value Engineering can help reduce cost of construction while enhancing building performance First introduced during World War II to deal with the shortage of materials, Value Engineering is about using alternatives for original parts or materials, and in doing so, achieving cost reduction, improved performance or both. Dr. Eun Gyu Choi, of CS Structural Engineering International, looks into the application of Value Engineering in construction, particularly in the field of structural engineering.
Within the construction sector, there are two types of Value Engineering (VE) – namely Design VE and Construction VE.
January 2015 | QCN
For the last few years, Qatar’s construction market has been growing rapidly. Largescale public and private projects are particularly increasing. With many projects simultaneously underway, the probability of project delays and complexities is bound to be higher. Dealing with such challenges efficiently and effectively can help avoid extra costs, thus increasing the profitability of a project. While addressing these issues is easier said than done, making use of management approaches such as Value Engineering (VE) can help achieve cost minimisation. VE is an organised system of investigation using trained multidisciplined teams to analyse the requirements of a project for the purpose of achieving its essential functions at the lowest total cost (capital, operation, and maintenance) over the life of the project. To achieve this goal, contractors or specialists have to retain or develop the specified function, reliability, quality and safety as well as reduce the total cost for the project by removing any unnecessary cost in applied construction method, equipment, material service and process. The concept of VE first emerged during World War II. Faced with a shortage of resources such as materials and labour, General Electric looked for substitutes. What started as a contingency plan led to an opportunity when the company engineer realised that substituting unavailable parts with those available reduced overall costs,
or improved quality. In some cases, the new products led to both reduced cost and product improvements. While VE had been formally applied by the mid 1800s, Corps of Engineers (COE) of the United States were the first ones to apply this concept in the field of construction in 1962.
VE in construction Why is VE necessary for the construction sector? Projects in the field of construction are time bound. As many critical issues often unfold with the progress, the designers have to work with limited details in hand. Much of the information is updated with time thus making it impossible to reflect all new information in the project’s design. An idea conceived at an initial design stage may never be realised because of changing conditions. Similarly, a starting design may have a conceptual mistake. Because a wrong concept can lead to serious trouble, reviewing it is crucial. Therefore, VE has to be performed by a team of new specialists, who are able to look into the details through a relatively different lens. VE can be applied to various large-scale projects including transportation, schools, hospitals, research centres, military facilities, water supply facilities, disposal units, railroads, harbours, residential buildings, hotels, office buildings and stadiums. The approach can especially have a much greater impact on projects
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VE has to be performed by a team of new specialists, who are able to look into the details through a relatively different lens.
While VE can be done at both design and construction stage, applying the concept at design stage helps accommodate more changes, thus allowing for more cost reduction and performance improvement.
including costly construction, multi-use buildings, repeated construction, budget project, construction works incorporating new technology and projects against strict deadlines ahead of 2022 World Cup. Within the construction sector, there are two types of VE. Design VE is aimed to review the initial design and find alternative and creative ideas for reducing the total cost by the new VE investigator team, not engaged in the design works earlier. Construction VE, on the other hand, is suggested for making necessary post-review changes in the contract for reducing the contractor’s cost. Usually, the owner evaluates whether or not the suggestion is efficient. If the cost is reduced by the contractor’s suggestion, the owner provides compensation with a fixed ratio. VE provides better results when it is performed in the planning stage of the project. Design VE, then, is more reliable than Construction VE as it allows more room to accommodate a change or a creative idea in the initial stage. On the contrary, there is not enough flexibility to change the planned process after awarding the project. When substantial changes are incorporated at a later stage, this also increases the risks of reduced efficacy, which leads to increased cost in most cases.
VE in structural engineering In the field of structural engineering, VE is usually performed in the schematic design and design development stages. Design documents created by the original designer are reviewed looking into the aspects of constructability, safety, functionality, and economical efficiency. The irrational loads and conditions are eliminated from the original design. In reviewing the structural system, details of structural members, materials, and construction methods are studied. The final result is proposed to the owner by showing a number of comparisons to factor in the alternatives best suited for equivalent function and reduced cost. In places such as South Korea, VE has been applied to the public facilities since 1997 and has reduced the cost by USD1470 million (QAR5.35 billion) in 19,900 performance improvement cases for 153 projects up to 2006. VE in private construction projects has been applied since 2003 and has reduced the cost by USD750 million (QAR2.73 billion), while improving 3700 performances in 27 projects until 2006. Looking towards the future of Qatar’s booming construction sector, many splendid and economical structures and buildings will seemingly benefit from more active and efficient application of the VE process.
Dr. Eun Gyu Choi, a Ph.D in Structural Engineering, is the general manager at CS Structural Engineering International’s Qatar office.
QCN | January 2015
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interview
Is Qatar on the rig ahead of the 2022 An interview with Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, senior design management engineer, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, senior design management engineer with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), says that all stadiums for the 2022 World Cup are being designed and constructed with the goal to comply with the GSAS and LEED certification standards. (Image SC)
January 2015 | QCN
ght track 2 World Cup?
Once renovated, Khalifa International Stadium will also feature a sports museum attached to it. (Image SC)
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interview
From the number of stadiums proposed for the 2022 World Cup to the timing of the tournament, Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, senior design management engineer, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, discusses the progress of Qatar’s World Cup preparations in an exclusive interview with QCN’s Farwa Zahra. Qatar is now more than a third of the way to the 2022 World Cup since the venue, Doha, was announced in December 2010. Supervising the preparations for the tournament, the country’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy announced designs for three stadiums proposed for the World Cup, while commencing the enabling works at Wakrah Stadium launched in 2013. Now with four stadiums already in the picture, the country is yet to announce at least four more to comply with FIFA’s minimum requirement on the number of venues to hold the tournament. Getting updates on the progress towards the World Cup preparations, QCN approached Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, senior design management engineer with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. With a bachelor’s degree in Civil and Structural Engineering from the University of Leeds and a master’s degree in Strategic Business Management from HEC Paris, Al Mawlawi is currently managing all design issues related to the Lusail Precinct in order to ensure the delivery of the Lusail Stadium. Of the overall progress in preparation for the 2022 World Cup, Al Mawlawi says, “Construction is underway at a number of stadiums, with enabling works at Al Wakrah and early works at Al Khor.” Among the key complexities circumventing Qatar’s winning bid for the 2022 World Cup is the issue of the tournament’s timing. With the World Cup falling in summer, concerns have been raised about harsh climatic conditions in Qatar. While FIFA has suggested moving the tournament dates from May to November, the football governing body has faced opposition from various parties including European Professional Football Leagues. A final say on the matter, however, is January 2015 | QCN
not expected until FIFA’s next executive committee meeting in March this year. Despite the timing of the tournament, Al Mawlawi mentions the stadiums will have cooling systems, showing Qatar’s commitment to deliver the World Cup irrespective of the season it falls in. “In the recent months, we have launched our successful cooling technology at the Brazil 2014 Fan Zone,” he says. In a recent development, SC also signed a contract with Qatar Mobility Innovations Center to adopt innovative Air Quality Monitoring System (Hawa’ak) – a smart air quality monitoring system that supports real-time monitoring of environmental conditions such as air quality, weather and climate. Ensuring effective air-conditioning will inevitably mean a toll on Qatar’s environmental conditions, already marred by a high percentage of carbon footprint. Dealing with the cooling solutions effectively, then, also involves depending on sustainable means of temperature control systems. In 2014, Brazil launched the world’s first sustainable stadium accredited with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system. Speaking about Qatar’s strategies to deliver sustainable stadiums, Al Mawlawi says, “All stadiums for the 2022 FIFA World Cup are being designed and constructed with the goal of certification using the GSAS (Global Sustainability Assessment System) and LEED certification standards,” further adding that, “Incorporating green building certification ensures a structured approach is taken to delivering sustainability by considering criteria such as building materials, environmental impact, and stadium operational requirements.” Explaining the reasons for registering with established systems for sustainability accreditation, Al Mawlawi says, “Applying third-party certification processes confirms that the project was designed, built and will be operated the way it was intended, through its entire lifecycle.”
Towards Qatar’s National Vision In the context of the World Cup, attaching the concept of sustainability to stadiums alone would be limiting the scope of an otherwise expansive field of
According to Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, senior design management engineer with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), one of the lessons experts have learnt from FIFA Observers Programme in Brazil involves engaging FIFA and local stakeholders from the beginning to avoid future challenges and delays and to distribute all possible benefits. (Image SC)
In December, SC released its first Semi-Annual Workers’ Welfare Compliance Report.
interview green construction. In fact, a large part of Qatar’s preparation for the World Cup involves delivering the infrastructure required to accommodate the influx of visitors during the tournament, and of workers joining Qatar’s workforce prior to the event. “The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy is committed to ensuring that all projects and infrastructure leave a genuine social, human, economic and environmental legacy that is aligned with the 2030 Qatar National Vision,” says Al Mawlawi. Highlighting that the planned development was already laid out in the country’s national vision, he continues, “Infrastructure development within Qatar is being planned to support the Qatar National Vision 2030. The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy is developing a tournament operations strategy that is aligned with Qatar’s national infrastructure needs... As we move forward with the preparations for the first FIFA World Cup to be held in the Middle East, Qatar is progressing at a rapid pace. We are making sure that our preparations align with Qatar’s other development imperatives, as described in the Qatar National Vision 2030.” Moreover Al Mawlawi, who considers the ongoing construction and infrastructure works linked to the World Cup as one of the milestones in achieving Qatar National Vision 2030, rather than looking at these developments as part of an independent opportunity.
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“We hold our contractors, our subcontractors and ourselves accountable for ensuring the highest standards for health and safety are upheld.”
Qatar's proposed stadiums for the 2022 World Cup STADIUMS
Al Wakrah Stadium
Al Bayt Stadium
Khalifa International Stadium (Redesigned)
Qatar Foundation Stadium
Al Wakrah
Al Khor City
Al Rayyan Municipality
Education City
Location
Launch year
Expected year of completion
Capacity
2013
2014
2014
2014
2018
2018
2016
2018
40,000
60,000
40,000
40,000
LEED & GSAS
LEED & GSAS
LEED & GSAS
LEED
Sustainability Target
CSR
20,000 seats will be dismantled and used to build stadiums in developing countries
Upper tier will be removed and the modular sections will be used to build stadiums in other countries
The stadium will remain as a sport and fitness destination for people in Qatar
15,000 seats will be dismantled and used to build stadiums in developing countries
Source: Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy
QCN | January 2015
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interview Key challenges
“Our bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup included 12 stadiums; however, the process of selecting the final proposed line-up of host venues is ongoing.”
With its design unveiled in December 2014, the new Qatar Foundation Stadium will be located in Education City. The stadium is set against for completion in 2018. (Image SC)
January 2015 | QCN
Looking at the difficulties in the way of successfully delivering the World Cup, Qatar is faced with both external and internal challenges. One of the externalities affecting a smooth pace of progress, of course, involves the uncertainties regarding the timing of the tournament. Another vagueness relates to the number of stadiums. Qatar has expressed intentions to deliver, at maximum, 12, and, at minimum, eight stadiums for the World Cup. Commenting on the matter, Al Mawlawi says, “Our bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup included 12 stadiums; however, the process of selecting the final proposed line-up of host venues is ongoing. In due course, the final proposal for stadiums will be submitted by the Local Organising Committee to the FIFA Executive Committee for approval.” Apart from such external uncertainties, the projects underway for the World Cup are also prone to the common risks attached to the construction sector. One such challenge is that of dealing with delays, which becomes even more critical for SC working against an immovable deadline of 2022. Speaking about the organisation’s strategy to deal with the issue, Al Mawlawi says, “The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy is working closely with all partners responsible for delivering stadiums and infrastructure for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. We are proud to confirm that construction on the Al Wakrah Stadium is ahead of the schedule.” When asked about some milestones one can expect in the near future, he adds, “Our preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup are progressing well with construction already underway at two proposed
With its design unveiled in 2013, ground breaking works started at the site of Al Wakra in May last year.
To feature a seating capacity of 40,000, Khalifa International Stadium has been redesigned to meet FIFA’s venue requirements for the 2022 World Cup. The renovation works are scheduled to complete in 2016. (Image SC)
interview
180,000 The combined seating capacity of four stadiums Qatar has so far proposed for the 2022 World Cup.
stadiums. Three other proposed stadiums will be in different phases of construction in the near future. These early milestones are clear indicators that we are working hard to deliver tournament stadiums on schedule.” While not specifying any particular time, Al Mawlawi asserts that the stadiums will be complete in advance to allow ample time for testing phase. “One of the six pillars of our organisation is focused on ensuring the timely delivery of infrastructure and proposed competition and non-competition venues, and ensuring a significant delivery of football development,” he adds. Among the internal challenges is the treatment of migrant workers in Qatar – an issue that has stirred international criticism and scrutiny over the last couple of years. When asked about some steps SC has taken to ensure workers’ welfare is maintained according to international standards, Al Mawlawi says, “We hold our contractors, our subcontractors and ourselves accountable for ensuring the highest standards for health and safety are upheld on Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy construction sites and worker accommodation.” Giving details of some strategies, he tells QCN, “Compliance with our standards will be vigorously enforced through a comprehensive four-tier auditing system, implemented with the support of independent third-party auditors. We will publish the results of these audits to track progress and share what we learn with our stakeholders in government and in the international community.” In December 2014, the Supreme Committee released its first Semi-Annual Workers’ Welfare Compliance Report featuring its goals, achievements, and challenges in relation to the first six months of implementing the SC Workers’ Welfare Standards. The worker welfare compliance system starts with the tendering process when the bidders are asked to submit a report documenting the living and working conditions of their workers. After the award phase, the welfare standards are monitored through this four-tier audit system, which includes monthly self-audits by the contractor, ad hoc SC audits, ad hoc external monitor audits and Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs inspections.
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Key concerns and lessons While most concerns around the 2022 World Cup currently revolve around the issues of construction, once the stadiums are complete, a whole new set of operational concerns will follow. These will involve the complexities that may arise during the tournament. To have a look into these concerns, a delegation of SC attended the FIFA observers programme in Brazil. Commenting on the experience as a great learning opportunity, Al Mawlawi says, “It’s a given that attending a mega event such as the FIFA World Cup provides one with a good idea of the effort required to manage such an event. However, attending the wellorganised Observers Programme arranged by FIFA added even more value to the knowledge we gained by attending the Brazil FIFA World Cup.” Summarising some key takeaways from the visit, he says, “It was immensely valuable to witness the work of the different departments and teams that planned and managed the event. It was also an eye-opening experience to be present during the exciting and challenging moments of the event. Our group captured a lot of lessons for Qatar to consider, such as making sure to engage FIFA and the various local stakeholders from the beginning of our planning, to avoid future challenges and delays and to distribute all possible benefits.”
“The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy is developing a tournament operations strategy that is aligned with Qatar’s national infrastructure needs.”
QCN | January 2015
Qatar’s construction sector is critically important for its national sustainability agenda, given the country is experiencing a period of extremely rapid and unprecedented development, says Darin Rovere, president, Sustainability Excellence.
the Construction sector is critically important for Qatar’s sustainability agenda
Q&A
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As the oil price drops on the international market, the need to diversify into non-hydrocarbon sectors is becoming even more pronounced for energy-dependent economies such as Qatar. Risks associated with such economies are not merely financial, but also environmental with increasing carbon footprint. Addressing these challenges means pursuing the agenda of sustainable development on a national level. In an exclusive interview with QCN, Darin Rovere, president of Sustainability Excellence, discusses some aspects of Qatar’s national sustainability agenda with a special focus on the country’s construction sector. Please tell us about Sustainability Excellence. Sustainability Excellence is an advisory firm committed to helping progressive companies and governments become leaders in sustainability strategy, performance and reporting. Our services span all three of these areas in more than 15 sectors. In Qatar, we help our clients understand how sustainability trends will impact their business, government or organisation, then help develop enhanced strategies, action plans, and performance measures for assessing progress against goals. From there, we support implementation, as well as help clients issue sustainability reports that share overall performance results with their shareholders and other stakeholders. Our most demanded implementation services in Qatar include performance benchmarking and insights, improved management system implementation, enhanced sustainability data tracking and back-end IT systems, energy and water efficiency, risk management in the supply chain, more systematic and aligned community investment, and support for corporate foundations.
How important is the role of Qatar’s construction sector in the sustainability debate? Given this period of extremely rapid and unprecedented development for Qatar, and given the enormous role of the construction
According to Darin Rovere, president of Sustainability Excellence, Qatar has done excellent work towards sustainable development by clearly outlining its ambitions to this end in its Qatar National Vision 2030 and its corresponding, shorter-term five-year National Development Strategy.
sector in that development, the sector is critically important for Qatar’s sustainability agenda. From a broad sustainability angle, the construction sector is a sub-sector within a wider group including but not limited to urban planning, architecture and facility design, which arguably have a more significant longer-term impact than the construction sub-sector. Collectively, however, they make up one of the most important sectors for sustainability in Qatar. In terms of sustainable design, construction companies typically implement the drawings of the architects and planners. However, the construction sector does need to manage major environmental impacts such as practising dust control and protecting air quality, reducing waste and better waste management, and more efficient and pricecompetitive clean technology sourcing. It must also manage key ethical, quality and social responsibilities including competing fairly; ensuring construction meets building code specifications; ensuring occupational health and safety management relating to competing fairly;
“In recent years Qatar Steel launched an aggressive programme to recycle steel in construction waste, thereby boosting the contribution of scrap consumption to 13.1 percent of its raw materials used in 2013.”
QCN | January 2015
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“In small countries like Qatar with a massive ongoing construction footprint, the issue of construction dust can have a material impact on overall national air quality.”
ensuring construction meets building code specifications; ensuring occupational health and safety management relating to employees, contractor and subcontractor workers, including maintaining sufficient working conditions and overall worker wellbeing; fair recruitment and employment of foreign workers, and other key issues. The sector is also under close observation by some of the international community. From a performance perspective, there are significant opportunities for enhancement across all of these issues. Given intense competitiveness and low margins in the sector, coordinated collective efforts (learning from the energy and industry sector work) may be the fastest and most effective and trusted approach to making progress.
In the construction sector, what are some leading innovations aimed at sustainability? In the region, there are significant immediate opportunities for applying more innovative practices that can often generate immediate financial, environmental and social benefits.
January 2015 | QCN
For example, as infrastructure and building designs increasingly call for more sustainable component products, construction companies are establishing more systematic and cost-efficient means of sourcing these products. The real or perceived extra cost and/or effort to shift procurement in this manner has traditionally been a commonly stated challenge. This emerging shift is sometimes undertaken with the support of master developers or the sector and government more broadly. Enhancements in the local supply chain also contribute to this transition. For example, in recent years Qatar Steel launched an aggressive programme to recycle steel in construction waste, thereby boosting the contribution of scrap consumption to 13.1 percent of its raw materials used in 2013. The resulting “greener” specifications of the building materials can typically be captured in green building assessments. In general, construction phase environmental impacts in the region are also more frequently being managed by common techniques, such as improved dust control. In small countries such as
Q&A Qatar with a massive ongoing construction footprint, the issue of construction dust can have a material impact on overall national air quality. Better waste management techniques are also already yielding results in Qatar, including providing the inputs for the above-mentioned more environmentally friendly steel. Occupational health and safety and overall working conditions of construction workers has been an increasingly prominent issue across the Gulf and the region. Progress across regional countries is varied with much more that can be done.
Tell us about the role of smart building technologies in attaining sustainability. Deteriorating air quality has been a growing concern for Qatar amidst ongoing construction activities. To improve the situation, the country’s construction sector needs to manage major environmental impacts such as practising dust control and protecting air quality.
In the application of smart technology and smart buildings, many new developments across the Gulf are adopting a wide array of smart technologies that have both immediate benefits (such as motion detection lighting and water faucets, better designed and timer-controlled temperate control features) and significant future capabilities for additional smart home and smart building applications. Many cities in the region are investing heavily in broader technological infrastructure, such as Dubai, which aims to be a global leader in “smart city� applications. Perhaps the most notable regional innovation, when factoring the broader urban design sector, is arising as a result of the scale of development in many Gulf and Middle Eastern countries, where entire cities are being built (such as in Saudi Arabia) or major city expansions undertaken (like Lusail City in Doha). In such cases, there is the opportunity to incorporate sustainable design at the community or city level, rather than simply at a building level. This creates dramatic opportunities for major benefits such as substantial reductions in infrastructure requirements (such as power creation and water management facilities) versus current cities, as well as enormous opportunities to plan for enhanced human, social, and economic development, interaction and wellbeing. An aggressive focus on such macro-level design and construction will have a material impact on the future competitiveness and sustainable development of these cities. It is an opportunity that more mature
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economies often do not share.
Gulf Organisation for Research & Development has established Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS). How do you compare GSAS to LEED and other global certifications? The most promising aspect of GSAS stems from the aforementioned point relating to the unique macro-level sustainable design that rapidly growing regional cities and countries can incorporate. New certification systems that have emerged from the region, including the GSAS as well as the Estidama system developed in Abu Dhabi, incorporate guidance on such macro-level design, thereby distinguishing themselves from other global certification systems in this exceptionally important manner. These regionally developed systems, while benefiting and building upon global certification systems such as LEED, have also been enhanced for better regional application. This includes, for example, much better consideration of the climatic conditions, culture and heritage considerations, and stronger or new guidance on areas of importance such as sports facilities (a key area of investment for Qatar) and mosques. Overall, the local development of systems like GSAS not only provide voluntary and/or regulatory guidelines and certifications for buildings and developments, but just as importantly, builds strong local foundational knowledge and expertise in sustainable urban design and management, which in turn ultimately gets embedded across all aspects of design, construction, everyday living, and societal norms.
What are some key elements to consider when integrating sustainability in national competitiveness strategies? National competitiveness strategies often already incorporate many or most facets of sustainability. A key challenge then becomes anticipating future scenarios of the likely performance of other countries on competitive issues, the likely importance of those issues, and the potential for disruptive change on those issues. Very often, the anticipated rate of change, and/or the importance of an issue to international competitiveness is at risk of significant QCN | January 2015
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Q&A
underestimation. Having an appreciation of the long-term parameters of ecological sustainability or social sustainability can help ensure better anticipation of the potential extent of change, and the likely competitive targets over the long term. For example, as climate change increasingly has major economic, social and environmental consequences, the importance of taking substantial collective international action has become evident. In October 2014, for example, EU leaders agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent against 1990 levels by 2030. In November, the United States pledged to cut its emissions to 26–28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. Most climate models suggest humanity must have a near zerocarbon economy by 2050. In this context, countries with traditionally carbon-intensive economies must take care to factor carbon intensity into their current economic diversification strategies, given that today’s major investments often have decade-long timeframes. If they diversify their economies but only into other carbonintensive industries, these economies will face significant long-term costs and risks. Countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are countering such risks by investing today’s wealth towards becoming global leaders in renewable energy technology and application.
For Qatar’s government, what should be the priority initiative in the context of sustainability? Qatar has already done excellent work in outlining its sustainable development ambitions, as clearly outlined and evidenced by its Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030 and its corresponding, shorterterm five-year National Development Strategy (NDS). Furthermore, these strategies and plans have achieved broad conceptual support from a wide range of business, government, civil society, citizen and resident stakeholders. The key now is to translate conceptual support into effective implementation. Success factors include an emphasis on systematic alignment of corporate, government and civil society strategies and activities with the QNV’s clearly articulated national objectives, agreement on national key performance indicators, and challenging but achievable national targets for these January 2015 | QCN
“[In cases of building entire cities, such as Lusail] there is the opportunity to incorporate sustainable design at the community or city level, rather than simply at a building level.”
indicators. Given Qatar’s ambitions and pace of progress, stakeholders should expect and work towards increasingly more aggressive targets relating to different aspects of economic, environmental, social and human capital performance. Multistakeholder efforts can help to share risks, promote faster adoption, and accelerate learning and performance gains. An outstanding example encompassing all of these success factors is the Qatar Energy and Industry Sustainability Programme. This 36-company initiative has deliberately and systematically established its framework, priorities and key performance indicators firmly in line with the QNV and NDS. It is now also aggregating the five-year strategies and sustainability performance targets of all companies against key QNV and NDS targets and objectives, to assess whether national targets will be met (and if not, what can be done to enhance performance, and if so, what enhanced target might be set). The initiative also benchmarks the sector’s performance against international peers. Other sectors in Qatar could follow the energy and industry sector’s lead.
Is there any change of approach in regional and national competitiveness strategies for sustainability? There has been an increasingly intense shift towards leadership in sustainability, and recognition of the importance of sustainability in national competitiveness. In Qatar, for example, in addition to the aforementioned QNV which is clearly structured according to four key areas of sustainable development, and the energy and industry sector initiative
Q&A
Some projects in Qatar, such as Msheireb Downtown Project, involve demolition to clear space, thus increasing the amount of waste generation. Within the construction sector, some key strategies to attain national sustainability agenda include reducing waste and better waste management, as well as more efficient and price-competitive clean technology sourcing. (Image Reuters/Arabian Eye)
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which is systematically driving the sustainability performance of more than half of Qatar’s economy. The World Cup 2022 bid incorporated many ambitious environmental commitments and social benefits, and the Qatar-generated GSAS aims to reshape the built environment and corresponding impacts such as energy and water competitiveness in Qatar and beyond. On a regional level, governments, as well as businesses and civil society, are increasingly focused on the unprecedented level of job creation required to provide jobs for the youth cohort that is transitioning to the workplace. While estimates vary widely, an estimated 50 million jobs or more need to be created in the region in the next decade just to maintain what are already extremely high levels of youth unemployment. This competitiveness challenge is enormous and, if not aggressively addressed, directly threatens economic and social stability and sustainability in the region. In the markets that are accelerating their focus on sustainability and competitiveness, companies – whether government owned, publicly owned, or privately owned – are also increasingly supportive of the intertwined sustainability and competitiveness agenda. This has been reflected in growing levels of transparency – with more than 70 organisations now issuing public sustainability reports – and, arising from that transparency, a growing focus on performance and benchmarking.
Where do you see Qatar standing in sustainability compared to other states in the region? There are many ways to assess progress towards sustainability. One of Qatar’s biggest advantages and opportunities is its clearly articulated QNV and NDS. Alongside this advantage is the energy and sector initiative that demonstrates how to put the QNV in action, for a sector that reflects more than half of Qatar’s economy. It aligns to the QNV, targets and assesses performance against the QNV and NDS, drives performance gains amongst participating companies, and generates widespread commitment to actual implementation of the QNV by critically important stakeholders. This combination is a competitive advantage with regard to most of the region, as well as internationally, and can be further built upon. QCN | January 2015
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legal
Decennial liability in Qatar Law When tendering for projects in Qatar, contractors, architects and engineers need to be aware of the risks attached to the commonly-practised decennial liability, writes Alexander Whyatt of Clyde & Co. Decennial liability – contractors’, architects’ and engineers’ strict liability for structural defects for a period of 10 years – is seen by some as a particularly onerous obligation, or even as a restriction on their ability to commercially allocate project risk. Contractual exclusion of decennial liability is ineffective in Qatar, and there are very few ways in which a contractor or consultant might escape liability in the event of a collapse or other serious structural defect. Decennial liability is a statutory liability enacted by Article 711 of the Qatari Civil Code on all architects, supervisory engineers and building contractors. It imposes joint liability on these parties for structural defects for a period of up to 10 years after handover, regardless of whether or not they were at fault. This liability cannot be excluded or limited by contract, cannot be relied upon by a contractor against its sub-contractors, and is generally not covered by standard Contractor’s All Risk or Professional Indemnity insurance policies. In addition, decennial liability attaches even if the damage is a result of unforeseeable ground conditions, if the employer gives his approval to the construction method, or where the contractor/consultant should have otherwise known about the defect, and applies even in the absence of the contractor or consultant’s negligence or fault. If a building does collapse or become structurally unusable or unsafe, the contractor and the consultant can be liable for not only the entire replacement of the structure, but potentially also the building owner’s resultant loss. Decennial liability provides valuable protection to a building owner, who does not need to prove or allocate fault if the building collapses, or if structural issues threaten its stability or safety. On the other hand, although international contractors and consultants operating in Qatar can sometimes be pleasantly January 2015 | QCN
Decennial liability generally not covered by standard Contractor’s All Risk or Professional Indemnity insurance policies.
surprised at their ability to negotiate caps on their overall project liability, especially in comparison to markets such as the United Kingdom, they can often be equally surprised at the significant additional potential liability they are automatically accepting due to the statutory imposition of decennial liability. While it is increasingly possible for contractors and consultants to obtain specific decennial insurance in the region, it is historically rare in Qatar, with premiums often unattractively high. Where insurance can be obtained, insurers will require significant visibility of the construction phase of the project, often issuing a ‘certificate of intent’ to write a policy prior to construction commencement; although this policy will only actually be written if the insurers are satisfied with the design and construction phase. As a result, the additional monitoring and involvement can cause delays, and there will be undesirable uncertainty until after completion as to whether a policy will actually be written. Despite unforeseeable ground conditions not absolving a contractor or consultant from decennial liability, they might argue that the structural
damage or collapse was caused by a force majeure event (Article 204 of the Civil Code). However, there is likely to be a significant grey area between what the building owner might consider to be a ‘ground condition’, such as unstable soil layers, and what a contractor might see as an ‘Act of God’, such as a landslip. Another potential argument for a contractor or consultant might be the uncertainty as to the precise nature of structural defects to which decennial liability applies. The brevity Article 711 of the Civil Code, and the fact that subtly different translations of the original Arabic exist, might therefore be adopted by a contractor or consultant to their advantage. It would seem perfectly arguable that “partial or structural collapse” or “defects threatening the stability or safety of a structure” could be interpreted to mean only the most serious or spectacular structural failings. Decennial liability is a risk of which contractors, architects and engineers need to be aware when tendering for projects in Qatar, and the potentially significant associated liabilities should be taken into account in their pricing. However, the risks can be mitigated to a degree, and contractors and consultants might draw comfort from the fact that it will generally be structural failings which are on the ‘serious end of the scale’ to which decennial liability will apply.
Alexander Whyatt is an associate in Clyde & Co’s construction team in Doha.
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137
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EPIC for upgrading of Sewage Treatment Plant
Qatar Petroleum
137
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Design and build of roads, infrastructure and landscaping works
Manateq, Qatar
2747
2/1/2015
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Renovation of rooms and Spa Fitness Centre’s expansion works
KATARA (Cultural Village Foundation), Qatar
6868
1/29/2015
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Qatar Petroleum
137
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Aspire Foundation, Qatar
549
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Construction, completion and maintenance of proposed administrative offices, garage and labour accommodation
Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’
1374
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Qatar Petroleum
55
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Interim upgrading of E-Ring Road and Street
Qatar Gas Operating Company Ltd.
137
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Qatar Fuel Company
275
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Interview: Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, SNR. design management eng., Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy – PG. 30
issue 2.1
January 2015
TECHNICAL
Application of Value Engineering in the field of construction
WINDS OF CHANGE Moving from conventional to sustainable heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in Qatar
Q&A
What is the role of construction sector in Qatar’s national sustainability agenda?
PLUS:
Risks attached to the commonly-practised decennial liability in Qatar Law