INCORPORATING
ISSN 2071-9299
MAY 2015
FM No. 001
NOT TO BE MISSED AT THE FM EXPO: • OFFICE INDABA • SEMINARS • SAFMA CONFERENCE
BRINGING TOGETHER OVER 80 SUPPLIERS UNDER 1 ROOF The event to source new suppliers, new ideas and gain expert knowledge from industry professionals
03 - 04 JUNE 2015 | GALLAGHER CONVENTION CENTRE | JOHANNESBURG
Register for FREE @ www.fmexpo.org today!
A FOR MUST ANY OFFI ONE CE IN OR W , BUILDIN G ORK SPA MAN C E AGE MEN T
EDITOR’S COMMENT
Terry Owen
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News & Products
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FM Expo 2015 Preview
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Facing Death Threats
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Dynamics of Data Centres
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Sound Barriers
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Operations
Incorporating
30 34 36
Green Residence
A huge welcome to Urban Green File!
W
e told you of changes that were to come with JFM in the January issue – and you would have seen some of those already. There’s a major change you will see in this issue – and that is the changing of the name (and masthead) of the magazine to “FM”. We’re dropping the “Journal” item from the name because it has a dated connotation and also is weighted towards the more scientific periodicals. You will have also noticed that we have changed tack with a lot of the major editorial offerings, making it far more relevant to the industry today. We also are moving to make the OPS and STRATEGIC aspects of FM more distinctive and separate. The beginnings of this move can be noted already and will be expanded as time goes on. A major change that will take effect as from the May issue will be the combining of the magazine Urban Green File with FM. The move is something that I have long felt makes a lot of sense, and I know it will be strongly endorsed by SAFMA. The world of FM and sustainability issues are inexorably linked, and today’s FM professional has to have a keen grasp on what is happening with green issues as they have such a profound effect on the built environment, and on his or her role in particular.
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Editor:
Opinion
The fact that the Green Building Council of South Africa plays a major role in FM affairs, and also is now highly visible at the SAFMA conference speaks volumes for the increasing importance of the coming together of FM and Urban Green File. In this issue and the next (June) we will also include sections on the forthcoming FM Expo and SAFMA conference which run alongside on June 3 and 4. This is the highlight of the year for FMs and green specialists, and is certainly not to be missed! You’ll find details of what will be on show at the expo and the conference programme in this issue and the June issue, which will be available at the show. Also keep a lookout for the FM and UGF e-bulletins which are posted weekly until the expo and conference. They will then revert to fortnightly editions. It’s certainly a time of change, and hopefully one that will be welcomed. Write in and let me know what you think. Email terry@fmexpo.org
Phillip Nkomo phillip@fmexpo.org
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NEWS & PRODUCTS
Zimbali Rides with Club Car
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lub Car is Zimbali Country Club’s choice in golf carts having recently taken delivery of 60 Precedent i2 units from Modern Mowers Durban branch. Steven Shearer, Zimbali’s GM, says that the deal agreed to with Modern Mowers was competitive and that their excellent service levels are appreciated by the Zimbali staff. “No matter how good the machines are, and Club Car is certainly top of the range, the after-market service and support is vital in a deal like this and Zimbali has been working well with Martin Finch from Modern Mowers since 2002,” Shearer says. He adds that a crucial point about Club Car is its Visage GPS system, which better suits the GPS system at Zimbali. “This was a decided advantage,” Shearer says. This is not surprising as the integration of connectivity into golf carts was pioneered by Club Car. The result is a solutions platform that is expandable and customizable by the fleet owner. “You decide how many of the con-
Zimbali Country Club recently took delivery of 60 Precedent i2 golf carts from Modern Mowers Durban branch. nected features you want to add to your fleet–from simple diagnostics, all the way up to Visage, Club Car’s premier suite of connected features,” says Stephen Mangold of Smith Power Equipment, the distributors of Club Car in Southern Africa. The Precedent i2 ushered in a new standard for styling and user experience. Thoughtfully designed with the golfer and operator in mind, it boasts a host of outstanding features including: • Excel electric drive system features hill descent assist,
regenerative braking, and more, for speed-range programming. • Powerful, quiet petrol or 48V battery-powered engine provides better acceleration and hill climbing ability. • Thoughtful ergonomics delivering the comfort and features golfers want. • 360° bumper protects frame and body from damage • Monsoon Top with built-in drain spouts channels water away from golfers,their clubs and the sweater basket.
• Thoughtfully designed dash and storage make it easy to store and locate personal items. • Spacious bag-well with centre divider. • Industry’s tightest turning radius. This brings to 200 the total of Precedent i2 Club Car golf carts sold in recent months to just three leading golf clubs – 60 to Zimbali, 70 to Country Club Johannesburg (CCJ) and 70 to Copperleaf Golf and Country Estate. n
Tiger Brands for Range Industrial Park
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rowthpoint Properties’ has concluded a deal with Tiger Brands milling logistics division to take up 4 600m2 of business space on a three-year lease within its new R55-million Range Industrial Park development in Blackheath, Cape Town. Tiger Brands’ new premises comprises a large warehouse, as well as 400m2 of offices, situated at this well located Growthpoint development. Riaan Munnik, Development Manager at Growthpoint Properties, says: “We are delighted to welcome Tiger Brands to its new premises. Its tenancy at Range Industrial Park supports its business operations and confirms Blackheath’s status as a top business area.” With this transaction, Range Industrial Park is now 50% let. The remaining half of the development is ready for other leading busi-
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nesses to occupy. Growthpoint acquired this strategic property, which consisted of an existing building of 6 300m2 and 1,4 hectares of vacant land, in Blackheath in late 2013. It has developed the vacant site into modern industrial warehousing space supported by offices. Munnik says the vision was to create sought-after big-box warehousing, ideal for storage and logistics operations. Engelbert Binedell, Divisional Director of the Industrial Sector for Growthpoint, believes the Range Industrial Park development correlates perfectly with Growthpoint’s opportunistic approach to developments. “Blackheath is a growing node with increasing demand. We have taken a functional asset and bolted on a new development. The completed product has extracted underlying value,” he adds.
Riaan Munnik, Growthpoint development manager, left, with At Sonday, Growthpoint industrial portfolio manager at its new R55-million Range Industrial Park development in Blackheath, Cape Town. This is exactly what Growthpoint has achieved by including features such as free-standing stacking height of 6m and a maximum stacking height of 8m. Each warehouse unit has its own
fully finished office component complete with dedicated entrance lobby and staff amenities which include toilets and showers. Range Industrial Park is a secure access-controlled environment. n
NEWS & PRODUCTS
Easigrass looks to grow franchise footprint
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ranchising is about selling hamburgers, pizzas and chicken – or perhaps auto parts and groceries, isn’t it? Definitely not, says Mehran Zarrebini who heads up Easigrass South Africa, which is currently rolling out franchises to sell its premier range of artificial grass products. Internationally – and now locally – artificial grass is replacing natural lawns, sand, asphalt and concrete as the perfect surface for residential, commercial and sport applications. It is not only cleaner and safer, but saves time and money on maintenance. “Between 2013 and 2014, Easigrass doubled its turnover via our seven existing franchises in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Somerset West, Durban and Botswana. With a growing number of installations and increased referrals, we expect to double volumes again during 2015,” says Zarrebini, adding that this will be achieved via increased turnover at existing franchises and significantly growing the number of franchises across southern Africa. Easigrass, the world’s leading artificial grass brand, is based in
UK Easigrass Directors, Easigrass SA management, Van Dyck regional managers, and Southern African Franchisees are pictured at the Cathedral Peak Hotel. Front Row: (kneeling) (from left) Eric Ward, Tyron Bloor, Herve Truniger, Louis Goncalves, Nonnie Zulu, Rajen Ramnath, Will Allan and Hennie Henderson. Second Row: (Standing) Abe Louw, Anthony Gallagher, Simone Bezuidenhout, Kobus Buys, Rory Bezuidenhout, Athol Watson, Mehran Zarrebini, Bas Lodewijk, Ihsaan Rahim, Susan Wiese, Bernd De Smedt and Leon Dercksen. Third Row: (standing) Bryce Dakin and Hennie Van Der Merwe. the UK but sells worldwide. It is the first artificial grass company to be awarded a prestigious gold medal for its use as part of a show garden in the history of the Royal Horticultural Society and Chelsea Flower Show. The South African franchisor is Durban-based Van Dyck Carpets. The company is owned by PFE International, which has successfully operated in the UK for a number of years and is committed
to ongoing investment in this country. The South African franchise model is based on a highly successful one that has been rolled out across Europe and beyond. Already, there are 31 franchises in the United Kingdom as well as a number of franchises in Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, New Zealand, the Balearic Islands and Dubai. In 2015, it is targeting Africa as well
as Singapore and Malaysia to grow its international market. Although both the product and the franchising system hails from its London parent, Zarrebini says that it is adapted locally to better fit local market conditions. He says that franchisees are not only trained to install a wide range of products but also provided with the support and point of sale materials to sell products across a variety of outlets. n
Cutting-edge tools to manage mining risk
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rappling with uncertainties in decision-making is at the heart of managing mines’ operations, and students at the Wits School of Mining Engineering are employing a high-tech program to do just this. Partnering with decision analysis software company Palisade, the School now has licensed access to the powerful @RISK software for its staff and 100 computers in its Mine Design Laboratory. Academics in different subject areas will be able to utilise the software in their own research, and introduce their students to new analytical avenues. “An understanding of stochastic analysis – or probabilistic analysis – is a vital part of every mining engineer’s skill set,”
says Professor Dick Minnitt, JCI Professor of Mineral Resources and Reserves at Wits. “Mines succeed on the basis of good decisions, and engineers must evaluate the uncertainties in every decision they face, before choosing the best one. Stochastic modelling is a significant advance in thinking about the answers we get for any calculations, especially those involving variables that can take on a range of different values.” “The approach can be applied in various aspects of mine planning – from operations to finance modelling – so that the engineer can contribute systematically to any assessment of risk and opportunity,” says Clinton Birch, Senior Lecturer in the School of Mining Engineering and teacher of a course in Financial Valuation.n
Wits students familiarise themselves with the new software. May 2015 FM
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NEWS & PRODUCTS
DKMC BRINGS INTERNATIONAL FACILITIES MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES TO SA!
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KMC brings IFMA’s international credentials programmes to South Africa for the first time ever – this to elevate the FM practice and play catch-up to the leading nations. The IFMA’s programmes were chosen as fit for purpose after reviewing current training and credentials programmes around the world. Theirs were found to be the only competency-based programme while others simply looked at qualifications and experience. The problem with qualifications and experience in SA is that the industry is lagging behind and thus the experience is not of international standard and best practice. The Case for Change South Africa is lagging behind in the practice of facilities and property management with an estimated 10 years. Granted there are pockets of excellence but it is obvious the rest of the fragmented industry is still stuck in the early 2000s. There are a number of indicators that we are behind including the membership size of industry association, quality of RFPs, lack of national standards and published research and benchmarking. As shown in the JLL Global Real Estate Transparency Index you can see how SA has made strides to achieve the ‘Transparent’ status, but we are still behind leading nations who are ‘Highly Transparent’. In all industries benchmarking is seen as a driver for improvement and innovation but FM professionals, it seems, never got that memo. In fact the reason why we have a ‘Transparent’ status in the first place is because of the Investment Property Sector
(REIT) driven by Asset Managers. It is therefore fair to indicate the FM industry status as more “LowTransparency if not “Opaque”. Interventions There are number of things the SA industry and practitioners have to do to catch up otherwise we shall be overtaken by other African countries. These include but not limited to developing national standards, earning international credentials, participating in benchmarking and implementing world-class FM solutions. Too many practitioners keep challenges and improvement initiatives to themselves as if theirs are peculiar portfolios and that they can’t learn from counterparts. Others seem afraid to be shown up. Can Africa overtake us? Meanwhile, some African countries are making strides. Take Nigeria’s adoption of Public Private Partnerships as a model
to delivery offices, hospitals and schools, and the fact that they have the most number of professionals with international credentials on the continent. In SA we have a number of multinationals appointing Europeans and Americans to come run their portfolios in South Africa and Africa. This is because SA practitioners are still not familiar with global concepts and best practices. What can we do? It is against this background that the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) has partnered with DKMC to bring the must-have international credential Facility Management Professional to South Africa. The programme is led by an international Master Instructor and is conducted in Johannesburg for the first time ever during May and June 2015 and successful attendants will earn the international credential FMP® alongside their name.
David Khasebe, owner of DKMC
IFMA has two other programmes on offer but these are not on offer at the stage. They are the Facility Sustainability Professional and Certified Facility Manager for experienced Senior Managers. For details please visit www.ifma. org/fmp or contact info@dkmc. co.za n
Conference to tackle communication
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he 2015 International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Africa Conference, taking place from July 29-31 at the Fairway Hotel and Spa in Johannesburg, will address the increasingly important challenges of leadership communication, cross cultural communication and the shifting of the communication function to a strategic advisor role
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within business. With present levels of employee engagement at below 30%, organisations are asking what they can do to improve organisational alignment with a view of enhancing productivity, retention of intellectual property and reduction of staff turnover – all critical financial metrics within any organisation. As the role of communication changes from
a distribution service to strategic advisor, the 2015 IABC Africa Conference will hear from thought leaders in the industry about how they have shifted the role of communication and delivered sound business return. “We are delighted to have global and local expert speakers join us at the 2015 Africa conference to share their insights into the role of business communication
and discuss the successes they have had within their own businesses,” says Daniel Munslow, IABC Africa regional chairperson. “Recent research also shows that local companies are looking at expanding their communication functions into Africa, specifically West Africa. The question of how to communicate across multiple cultures and achieve engagement is on everyone’s radar.” n
THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT EVENT OF THE YEAR
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acilities Management Expo is running for the fourth year and continues to grow. Over the past 3 years SAFMA has run their conference alongside the expo. This has raised awareness as we strive to educate and inform all of those in the Facilities Management industry. If you’re in the facilities industry, the Facilities Management Expo is a must for you.
This expo offers valuable educational content, an excellent variety of suppliers and associations to connect, network, share experiences and grow. This show is definitely not to be missed! Companies that have already booked their stands include Drake and Scull, Cummins
Generators, Impro Technologies, Boss Office, Archibus, Red Alert Cleaning, Franke Kitchens and many others. Visiting the Facilities Management Expo will give you the tools you need to make informed decisions, compare solutions and discover the most effective, innovative technologies to run your building better. Engage with industry leaders showcasing their latest products, services, innovations and keep-up with the latest legislation and best practice. The Facilities Management Seminars will be held free of charge during the expo. The seminars will bring leading experts in the field of facilities management together to deliver informative and educational lectures on the key subjects facing facilities managers.
DON’T MISS OUT ON THIS FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO GROW YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPLIER NETWORK. REGISTER NOW, FOR FREE @ www.fmexpo.org May 2015 FM
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Buyers and Sellers
Advice
Network & Share Ideas
• Source new products
• Get indepth advice
• Seminars
• Solve problems
• Over 80 exhibitors
• Conferences and meetings
• Learn new practices
• The latest technologies
• Network, learn and grow
Should you attend? Attendies range from: • Facility Managers • Plant Engineers • Building Owners • Building Managers • Maintenance Personnel • Production Supervisors • Buyers • Purchasing Managers • Managers/Owners Safety Supervisors and more...
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Free entry, central location, multiple prospects. What are you waiting for?
Fast track your exhibition experience. Register online and be one step ahead to avoid payment at the door. Register online for free entry at www.fmexpo.org
Archibus provides the most comprehensive and integrated approach to real estate, infrastructure and facilities management, which can improve asset utilization, operational efficiency and increase shareholder value.
Aquapol Permanent Dry Walls introducing visitors to a unique solution that permanently eradicates rising damp and which employs a device powered by renewable energy.
EISH Group will be launching The Wee N Wash Basin and Urinal all in one. With savings of up to 70% on your washroom water bill. EISH Group will also be re introducing their 100% green locally produced enzyme cleaner Vibriozyme.
Broll Facilities Management will launch their new state-of-the-art digital Dashboard - innovative technology software that displays real-time operating activity, historical trends and performance data. Broll will have experts in their field available for you to meet and greet, ready to answer any of the questions you might have.
Visit the Clean Hygiene stand for, bathroom dispensers, monthly supply on toilet paper + detergents & goods, monthly cleaning staff, pest control, window, Carpet, Brick, Basement Cleaning, site hand over cleaning, Clean & Seal Tiles, Pre Occupational Cleaning, Pre-Construction soil treatment and restaurant / Hotel Fat Trap Cleaning.
Franke Kitchen Systems offers a comprehensive range of Stainless Steel Sanitaryware and Washroom Accessories to suit any application and compliment any design. In addition, they are the distributors of ZIP HydroBoils, HydroTaps and Chillers, a range offering instant boiling and/or chilled water on tap.
Ecofibre Solutions will be showcasing their versatility of using recycled materials as a medium and driving the theme of Recycling and mindful attitudes to waste management, they aim quite literally, to keep things clean!
Green Worx will be launching the Ultra Deep Clean Enzymatic. This is an advanced innovation in floor and hard surface cleaning technology and is safe and approved for use on food contact areas.
Manage your building better and improve security. Control access to your building. Manage access to restricted areas. Access control is changing and bringing real business value. Visit the Impro Technologies stand to find out about their revolutionary new products.
The LDM Group is a Leading Built Environment Service Provider that focuses on Turnkey Built Environment Project delivery services, which includes Facilities Management, Green Building Consultancy Services, Quantity Surveying, Construction Project Management, to name but a few.
Looking for Waterproofing, Sealants or Concrete Repair Products? Mapei, the world leader in construction chemicals, offers a full range of products to suit all your building requirements.
Marnies Security Solutions, established 1986 - known in access control market for outstanding service with excellent response time. Gate/garage door automation; CCTV; electric fence with COC; access control/ alarms/ intercoms. Fit all top brands. Qualified technicians.
Maredi Technologies will be showing off the role of ICT in facilities management.
Jo Jo Tanks/Burgess Plumbing are Gauteng’s number one plumbers. They operate in the greater Gauteng area. They cover the commercial, industrial, corporate and retail sectors. Operating 24hours/ 365 days.
MobileForms will be demonstrating the monitoring of field based activities including Photos, Signatures, GPS, Time and Date stamped, Barcode reading, Sketches using a reporting form, of the entity’s own design, enabled by the MobileForms App on any Smartphone or Tablet.
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Find out what services Mpefela Security and Cleaning Services have to offer by visiting their stand. Make sure that you stop by to see what quality security and cleaning services are offered by Mpefela.
Neutron Energy Control Corporation will be displaying the best and most affordable Power factor correction devices available in the South African Market today.
Intuitive BI Africa will be showing off their latest version release of their software which includes mobile connectivity to a Facilities Management demo. Neledzi Cleaning Services will be introducing their services to prospective clients.
Replacing leaking pipes is not only costly and messy, but also time consuming. However Nu Flow offer a quicker, noninvasive solution by reline pipes with a liquid epoxy working from existing access points thereby causing no damage to buildings.
Red Alert Security will be introducing SuperGuard - Double your security without doubling your cost. Collect factual evidence of incidents without having to rely on hearsay. Red Alert Cleaning will be introducing their Hygiene division.
Romano is one of SA’s most experienced Solar PV providers, operating throughout Africa. They design, supply and install high quality roof-top and ground-mounted PV systems, which are delivered on-time at a competitive price.
Sitwell/Atubi will be presenting world class South African designed and manufactured range of Evacuation seats and stretchers. Workplace Accessibility/ Mobility solutions - for persons with physical disabilities. Wheelchairs hoists and ramps.
Visit Verita Systems to fully understand the benefits of utilizing the Visitor Management system. Their solution is developed in-house and therefore customizable around the requirements of your facilities.
From office park maintenance to wholesale management of municipal service delivery processes, Tsebo Facilities Solution offers expertise in technical, non-technical and business support services, providing clients with reliable business infrastructure.
Sandton Office Removals – one of the most professional Office Relocation Company in Gauteng will be exhibiting at the expo showcasing the services they offer.
SMsolutions is a bulk SMS provider. SMS messages are proven as one of the most successful ways to communicate and keep in touch with customers and staff. Use SMS messages to confirm appointments, SMS special offers or vouchers and send automated birthday wishes – these are just some examples of what SMsolutions have to offer. They give full training, ongoing support and assistance ensuring the best results for your business.
Pentafloor has fast become one of the largest and leading manufacturer/supplier of high quality Access Flooring in Southern Africa and on the continent. Pentafloor also distributes the full range of Shaw Contract Group flooring products throughout Africa and has gained serious traction with design professionals.
The School of Construction Economics and Management has undergone tremendous reorganization since 2012, resulting in the recruitment of highly trained academics from across the world. This has resulted in new courses and programmes in Property, Facilities Management, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying as well as Project Management.
Structured Connectivity Solutions SCS Offers Solutions that will Rock Your World from Mobile, Banks, Schools, Clinics, Energy Centers to Data Centre (Racking, Power, Cooling, Environmental Monitoring) Generators, UPS’s, Renewable Energy (such as Solar & Wind Turbines).
UTC Building & Industrial Systems is the world’s largest provider of building technologies. Their elevator, escalator, fire safety, security, building automation, and HVAC systems and services promote integrated, high-performance buildings that are safer, smarter and sustainable.
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We are pleased to announce that the Office Management Indaba will run alongside the Facilities Management (FM) Expo.
Our Exhibitors For the past 12 years AZ Trading has supplied a range of shredders, binders, laminators and caters for light and industrial applications. They help to protect important data through safe disposal and presentation procedures. My Office will promote the shop-sa brand, which turns 100 next year, and the My Office magazine - the official publication of the home and office products association in Southern Africa. Gizocorp Office Movers & Installers is a reliable office mover and office installation company, they will be at the expo to not only meet and greet their existing clients but to also meet and make some new ones, come and speak to the professionals in office moving, new office installation and everything office furniture. Tidy Files can save companies up to 57% on floor space and substantially reduce the time spent accessing and retrieving documents with their end-to-end document management and storage solutions. Walk&Work promotes a healthy office environment. Sitting for prolonged period’s increases risk for heart disease, diabetes, cancer and death, even among people who exercise regularly. Walk & work is the first to introduce the treadmill to South Africa.
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Office administration, Operations & Management for the new generation‌ At the Office Management Indaba you will find an outstanding educational seminar programme packed with presentations to provide delegates with expert knowledge and new skills to take back to the office, high profile speakers from the world of business, and interactive training workshops & discussion panels. Seminars Office Management Indaba will provide a dedicated seminar area covering a wide range of topics that have a significant impact on the office management sector. Exhibition Alongside these seminars will be a specific exhibition area for office suppliers to showcase their products and services to: Office Managers, PAs, Operations Managers, HR Managers, entrepreneurs and many professionals attending the Office Management Indaba.
If you are a supplier of any one of the products or services listed below you need to book a stand. Business Travel
Office Services
IT Solutions
Facilities Management
Stationery
Postal/Delivery Solutions
Office Furniture
Corporate Rewards
Training
Recruitment
Health & Safety
Office Equipment
Corporate Hospitality
Personal Development
Wellbeing
Health & Lifestyle
Technology
Telecommunications
Event Management and Planning
Venues
Conference
FM in a fast changing environment Pre conference dinner on the 2nd of June at The Swiss Club, Vorna Valley, Cost R220 per head. Email kim@safma.co.za for bookings or for more details
What to do in case of disaster: A Case Study: Nadine Jackson, Chief Financial Officer, Tracker Connect Pty Ltd
MC: David Watts Host MixFM
Running an Environmentally Sound Plant: Tumelo Golekanye, Engineering Manager VALPRE Spring Water
Labour Regulations and new legislation around s197 Transfers: Ross Alcock , Director, Edward Nathan Sonnenberg Sustainability: putting people first and building second: Peter Townshend , Managing Director, Know More SA Steelcase research: Mr Pierre Michiels, Regional Sales Director , Sub –Saharan Africa Case Study: Existing Building ratings: How I did it: Green Building Council South Africa Presentations by Winners: SAFMA Awards Panel Discussion: Benefits to the client of a PPP: Ms Ayanda Peter, Chief Executive Officer, Imvelo Concession Company; and Mbulaheni Edwin Maseda, Project Manager: DEA Green Building PPP Project, Chief Director: Facilities Management, Department of Environmental Affairs. Establishing international FM Standards’ by Craig Henry and David Khasebe: • Overview of ISO/SABS FM Committee Role and Working Groups – Craig Henry, Chairperson of FM Technical Committee TC 267 • Presentation of draft FM System Standard – David Khasebe, Convenor of FM System Standard Working Group
Responsibilities of Facility and Maintenance managers in terms of the new Construction regulations: Willem du Toit , SAFTEK Property Charter Update including Market size; Property Sector; Economic Activity; State of Transformation report; New aligned scorecard: Portia Tau-Sekati , Chief Executive Officer, Property Charter Improving Operations Efficiency with MDMS (Meter Data Management Systems): Sean Wheller , Chief Executive Officer, PrepaidMeters.com SAFMA Salary survey: Prof Samuel Azasu, University of the Witwatersrand
FOR BOOKINGS AND MORE INFORMATION ON THE SAFMA CONFERENCE VISIT www.safma.co.za OR EMAIL kim@safma.co.za May 2015 FM
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Conference PROGRAMME Wednesday 03rd June 2015
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Thursday 04 June 2015
FACING DEATH THREATS...
Scott Ramsay can be viewed as a facilities manager extraordinaire with game reserves as his particular habitat and taking care of the endangered rhino his speciality. FM doesn’t have to be confined to four walls – and, as we’ll see in a forthcoming issue, it is a 300km stretch of road. Meanwhile, this is no ordinary FM gig. It’s dangerous, and goes far beyond the run-of-the-mill archetype. May 2015 FM
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© Scott Ramsay
BUT NOTHING WILL DETER SCOTT
FM MANAGEMENT
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It’s such a great feeling to catch a rhino poacher or middleman. But the job does take its toll.
© Scott Ramsay
ccording to a recent article written by photojournalist, Scott Ramsay, rhino poaching in South Africa is at record levels, with more than 1 215 having been killed in 2014. The game rangers are the soldiers on the frontlines in this war against the desecration of a species, putting their lives and that of their families on the line for nature conservation. Lawrence Munro, winner of the Best Conservation Practitioner Rhino Conservation Award in 2014, previously the head ranger of the iMfolozi wilderness area in the southern section of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, now heads up the Rhino Operations Unit, the anti-poaching task force for the whole of KwaZulu-Natal. Munro’s unit has been relatively successful and he attributes much of the success to targeting poachers and their syndicates outside of protected areas, rather than waiting for poachers to come into the reserves. A great advance in the war against poaching is the listing of rhino poaching as a priority national crime, indicating that government’s intelligence and security agencies now support conservation agencies such as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. This essential yet dangerous line of work is unforgiving, unrelenting and dangerous. Thirty-nine year-old Munro, who has a young family, is constantly armed and on guard. “I am thinking combatively all the time,” he explains. “My family and I have had very directed, pointed death threats. Letters addressed to me that say: we don’t want you around anymore.” The implications of his line of work mean that his family cannot travel after dark without Munro acting as escort; he works strenuously long hours – preparing in the day and hunting poachers at night. This places stress
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FM MANAGEMENT
on his family and affects every facet of his life. Munro is often forced to keep a lot of his work secret, unwilling to reveal anything to his family that will endanger their lives. Despite the danger, Munro loves his work. “It’s such a great feeling to catch a rhino poacher or middleman. But the job does take its toll.” “We deal with paradoxes all the time,” says Munro. “We flit between what is beautiful and peaceful one day, to what is very ugly and confrontational the next.” On Christmas Day, Munro and his team were on patrol in the iMfolozi wilderness area. At dusk they were treated to a spectacular sunset, but the beauty was shattered by countless gun shots; the only thought being hope that the rhinos and Munro’s team were safe. “We sprinted to the contact point. There were bodies lying around, and I prayed it wasn’t one of our team. Fortunately the poachers had been killed, and none of our team was hurt.” Despite these battles, which Munro describes as “a typical day’s work”, he has lost only one man so far. “People do die. Luckily, so far, the majority are poachers, but we’re under no illusions.” Nominations are open for the Rhino Conservation Awards 2015 and are invited from all African rhino range states, in categories including; Best Field Ranger, Best Conservation Practitioner, Best Political and Judicial Support, Best Science Research and Technology, and Best Awareness, Education or Funding. The additional Special Youths category honours youngsters that have taken action against poaching. Nominations can be made by and/or on behalf of any person or organisation that has played a part in rhino conservation, on any scale. Nomination forms can be requested from Janyce Dalziel at janyce@ currintevents.co.za, or downloaded from the Rhino Awards website, rhinoconservationawards.org, which is now live. Once nominations are closed on the 1st of June 2015, an executive committee will review all nominations and draw up a short-list for the winners to be chosen from. A panel of adjudicators will then identify the winners and runners up in each category. For more information visit rhinoconservationawards.org, Adapted from an article written by photojournalist, Scott Ramsay, with his permission - http://m.news24.com/Traveller/ Explore/Bush/Zululand-Ranger-on-thepoaching-frontlines-20150209 n
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Nominations are open for the Rhino Conservation Awards 2015
Facilities Management provides cutting-edge information on the latest issues and procedures regarding facilities management. The target reader is the owner/operator of properties and facilities: business people, responsible for financial decisions about the operation, maintenance and expansion or development of facilities, who are interested in running a profitable and sustainable facility and keen to learn about new business approaches and technologies. Outsourced services and solutions which will result in improved efficiencies, such as energy saving, attract their attention Facilities Management, incorporating Urban Green File, reaches facilities-management solution providers and consultants such as mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, architects and interior designers. The magazine is also read by service providers of hard and soft facilities-management services (including heating, ventilation and air- conditioning, plumbing and sewerage, electrical services, security and access control, catering, cleaning and landscaping). Ready access to this kind of news is available through the information platform, hosted by T.E.Trade Events, which includes printed magazines, fortnightly email bulletins as well as an annual business directory.
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DELVING INTO DYNAMICS OF DATA CENTRES
Aurecon’s Data and ICT experts are tasked with guiding government entities and private clients toward the successful roll out of their data centre infrastructure. In an industry that adapts, evolves and multiplies at an incredible speed, they need to be able to plan projects according to current and projected future needs. Four of Aurecon’s Data and ICT experts explore the latest thinking surrounding the current and future state of data centres globally. • Peter Greaves – Expertise leader, Data & ICT Facilities • Jaco Blignaut – Technical Director, Buildings • Arthur Linke – Technical Director and Business Development Manager in Data and Telecoms • Dirk Trollip – Business Development Manager, Property
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FM ROUNDTABLE
H
aving worked on multiple data centre projects and being able to partner with clients who are currently planning new data centre roll-outs, what do you think the current trends in the data centre environment are?
A more integrated approach to energy efficiency Peter: Currently, everyone is focused on energy efficiency, but this is starting to extend to much more than just the design of the physical data centre. In other words, the orientation of the data centre, and other passive design measures, are important, but so is how the data centre is operated and managed. We’re increasing our focus on how infrastructure management can be incorporated during the initial design phase to ensure that the data centre is using space effectively; that it is controlled optimally and that energy efficiency is a golden thread throughout all of the functions within a data centre. This integrated approach to energy efficiency is a major trend.
The public relations (PR) payoff from sustainable buildings and operating a certified green data centre Peter: Besides reduced electricity costs, there are additional incentives to ‘going green’. Data centres currently account for over 2% of global energy consumption, so companies can benefit greatly from positive media coverage if they are willing to invest in lowering their electricity demand from data centres. Google, for example, has bought the entire electricity output of four as-yet-unbuilt wind farms in southern Sweden to power their data centres. Facebook, similarly, inaugurated a massive data centre in Lulea in Sweden in 2013 and this facility runs entirely on renewable energy generated by nearby hydroelectric schemes. This has gained both of these companies positive media attention. In terms of ‘proving’ that a data centre is ‘green’, it is now possible to grade a data centre against the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification programme, which is a voluntary rating system for energy efficient buildings. There hasn’t been a large uptake in this yet, but it’s set to become more popular in future, especially as interest from large banking institutions mounts.
The importance of modular design and quick deployment Jaco: Modular data centres are also an important trend. Modular data centres are scalable and they can grow along with a client’s business and future needs. The capital outlay of a data centre can be substantial, which is why clients are interested in ‘future-proofing’ the design of their data centre with modular solutions. Instead of over-investing in a facility that’s too large now, they can design a facility to meet their current needs but also have the option of future expansion. Arthur: Data consumption in Africa will continue to rise and data centre owners, operators and mobile networks need to rapidly deploy high quality data centres to meet this need. Modular data centres work well in Africa because modular systems are not only scalable but they are also quick to deploy. Quality control can also be done during production, ensuring better designs and quick construction. Dirk: Indeed, speed of deployment is key. There is a huge push to get data centres up and running in South Africa as well as East and West Africa. Aurecon is currently partnering with a large ICT infrastructure and solutions provider with a similar footprint to the company across the continent to fulfil this need and is targeting, among others, financial institutions as one of the potential sectors in which to grow data centre business. As a company, we have also extended our network partners to include project management – quantity surveying – and architectural companies that specialise in data centres. These relationships are helping us to offer complimentary services and more benefits to our clients.
Data quality is becoming increasingly important Arthur: In Africa, the quality of data networks is increasing rapidly, thanks to mounting efforts by mobile operators. This greater emphasis on the quality of data is a global trend as more clients, particularly banks and insurance companies, need better quality data, leading to the creation of higher quality networks such as 4G technology like LTE (4th Generation Long-Term Evolution, a new wireless communication standard).
Jaco Blignaut – Technical Director, Buildings
Arthur Linke – Technical Director and Business Development Manager in Data and Telecoms
Dirk Trollip – Business Development Manager, Property
How is location impacting the projects that are being planned and currently underway? Peter: Clients are also more educated about the impact that the location of a data centre has on minimising costs. Location has
Peter Greaves – Expertise leader, Data & ICT Facilities
May 2015 FM
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FM ROUNDTABLE
GlobalSwitch Sydney, East High View become a key concern among data centre owners and operators. Some governments, specifically Norway, are setting up business parks and locations with the goal of attracting data centres. Temperate climates and the ability to use natural resources to cool the centres are huge draw cards. Jaco: Besides choosing a location with ambient conditions, more focus needs to be placed on how the natural orientation and whether the resources within the vicinity can help you run the data centre efficiently (for example, setting up a data centre next to a power plant). Arthur: Data centre owners and operators know that renewable energy is the ideal option to power a data centre, which is why they are integrating this into the design of data centres. In Africa, geothermal and solar energy are viable options, so it’s possible to integrate these into the design of new data centre roll-outs.
With all the new technology available and an obvious rise in data consumption as well as the need for additional, quality data centres, what’s holding us back from deploying cutting-edge data centres everywhere? Peter: As an industry, we need to be brave and be prepared to be the first to latch on to new technologies, whether it’s new IT infrastructure or integrating renewable energy into the design of large-scale data centres. It’s understandable that nobody wants to be the guinea pig when it comes to deploying the latest technology, but thorough research and understanding the time-frames involved in seeing a return on investment is key – and that’s something that we can help clients with.
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Jaco: Cost is the main inhibitor when it comes to deploying cutting-edge technology. The technology involved with almost anything relating to data centres, from the servers and IT racks to the technology used to build the actual facility, advances so fast that the infrastructure isn’t always able to keep up. This is why modular systems work so well – because you don’t have to upgrade your entire facility each year (which would not be affordable). With modular data centres, you can build with a 5 – 10 year lifespan in mind. Arthur: In Africa, the ability to minimise project risks by partnering with several experienced, reliable and reputable contractors with specialist skills in different areas is key. Using a single contractor, or a ‘turnkey’ approach to projects is fraught with risk. The trend is definitely moving toward investing in quality services and budgeting for expertise to make sure that everything from the power, HVAC and electronics work optimally, as well as investing in a future-proofed design. Cost is a challenge, but an increasing number of clients want premium services, which produce the best possible designs and higher quality results.
What might the data centre landscape look like in 20 years’ time? Peter: Cooling infrastructure is a huge part of any data centre setup. Currently, data centres are kept cool from air that gets passed across the server racks by a complex connection of compressors, HVAC systems and chillers. I think immersion cooling is a possibility in the future – entailing tanks of liquid coolant which servers are submerged in, instead of using air to cool the racks. If this works out, it will eliminate
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Besides reduced electricity costs, there are additional incentives to ‘going green’. Data centres currently account for over 2% of global energy consumption.
the need for traditional HVAC systems in a data centre. There are still many challenges surrounding this option, but it is something that we are testing. Jaco: In a perfect world, the need for cooling will be eliminated in 20 years’ time. My desktop computer runs at ambient conditions (something that wasn’t possible many years ago), so there’s no reason to believe that the same couldn’t occur with data centres, thanks to technological developments. In addition, I would like to think massive data centres will cease to exist because they are so expensive to build and not as flexible as modular systems, which means they’re not really an asset. Arthur: Indeed, I also believe there will be many small data centres – in the cloud, some of them networked, many of them interconnected. Data centres will be dispersed throughout Africa, bringing them closer to their users. They will also be smaller and operate within a network of other data centres. n
FM OPS
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SOUND POLLUTION
Sound pollution has been described as the “next green barrier” to overcome. Jan de Beer reports on how one company is tackling this with its superb flooring range.
E GBCSA W Cape offices
OVERCOMING ‘NEXT GREEN BARRIER’ May 2015 FM
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mployees rank their workplace as one of the top three factors contributing to job satisfaction, as well as their decisions on whether to accept or leave a job. Consequently, property developers, designers and architects have a crucial role to play in providing inspirational working environments for the benefit of employees. High on the list of aspects to consider is the impact of acoustics on workers. If you can hear someone talking while you are reading a document or writing a report, your personal productivity drops by up to 66%. Yet over the years, the average size of workstations has dropped substantially - and also moved closer to each other. The closer quarters were intended to improve communication and reduce costs but have also generated growing staff discontent about acoustics. The introduction of more noise-generating equipment and the trend towards more cognitive work, requiring deep concentration, has increased this employee unhappiness. Research conducted by leading American office furniture producer, Herman Miller Inc., found that one of the biggest frustrations
FM OFFICE
Cape Town Hollow Boutique Hotel is overhearing neighbouring staff members’ conversations and voices. The same employees also complained about the fact that other employees could hear their own private conversations. Confidential conversations that contain information about human resources and finance could, if overheard at inappropriate staff levels, be disruptive to company morale as well as profitability.
Noise pollution Sound is nothing but noise pollution and has been described as the next ‘green’ barrier to overcome. Noise can cause sleeping disorders, stress, headaches, memory loss, aggression and learning difficulties. Apart from the office environment, proper acoustic performance in schools creates a quiet atmosphere even if children are running in the corridors, while in hospital and old-age homes, peaceful acoustics help patients to recover faster, and stay healthier. Brandon Park, Sales Director of leading South African flooring supplier and installer, the Kevin Bates Albert Carpets Group, says floor coverings present extremely important sound-absorption opportunities. “Carpeting absorbs many times the airborne sound
that can be dealt with by other flooring materials. Typically, the thicker and higher quality the carpet, the better it will be at absorbing sound – particularly high-frequency sounds. “The acoustic requirements of an interior will always vary from project to project and building to building. Improving the intelligibility of speech in a classroom or a meeting space will require different solutions to creating a feeling of privacy in an open office space. The size and shape of a room also plays an important role. “Chairs being moved or footsteps on a floor are examples of impact sound. A good acoustic environment is always the result of many factors, including choice of ceiling and acoustic panels. But to effectively control noise from footsteps and other impacts, no flooring alternative is more effective than carpet,” Park states.
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Flooring plays an important part in acoustics, of both the home and commercial environments. Pictured are examples of some prestige commercial flooring supplied and installed by Kevin Bates Albert Carpets.
Sound absorbers He says wool carpets have been extensively used by designers to create more comfortable environments. Wool flooring dampens noise and reduces sound transmissions between floors and rooms. Sound is transmitted by the vibration of air molecules. The fuzzy porous structure of wool carpets and soft furnishing means that sound waves can penetrate into the pile rather than May 2015 FM
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FM OFFICE
KPMG ege carpets in entertainment area being reflected back into a room. Wool carpets are extremely effective sound absorbers because the individual fibres, tufts and underlay have different resonant frequencies at which they absorb sound. Kevin Bates Albert Carpets distributes carpet tiles produced by Interface modular flooring, a global pioneer in sustainable flooring and environmental preservation. “Interface has acknowledged that - although increasingly popular open plan workspaces pose formidable acoustic challenges. The company is one of a growing number of carpet producers that has designed flooring that effectively absorbs sound and reduces impact noise at the source,” Park says. Impact sound transmission, measured in decibels, indicates how much sound is insulated from an adjacent space. Interface products reduce impact noise by 14 to 33 decibels compared with hard flooring which is just 1 to 6 decibels. To improve flooring acoustics, not just the qualities of the carpet itself are important – the backing plays an equally decisive role. Interface has developed two acoustic carpet tile backing options: SONE and Interlay, which can be used across the entire workspace or limited to smaller, zoned areas that have more complex needs. SONE is an integrated backing for more than 40 of Interface’s modular carpet designs. The backing enhances acoustics and softness underfoot and offers sound reduction of up to 33 decibels. Interlay is a resilient, looselay underfloor system for 50cm by 50cm tiles that can be used to enhance acoustics and comfort.
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‘Controlled’ sound Chris Brown, owner of a leading Arizona carpet producer, says when many people think of acoustics and new flooring, their main concern revolves around sound absorption. “Actually, they need to determine what they really want when it comes to sound. You have to clearly determine what the room you are going to buy new flooring for is going to be used for. In some instances, you don’t want the sound to be muffled or absorbed, just ‘controlled’. For example, for a home theatre, you would want the sound relatively heavily damped, which will allow sounds to be more directional, creating a situation where you can pinpoint where the sounds are coming from. If you are creating a music room, however, you might find a wood floor with an area rug of medium density more appropriate.” Furniture, curtains, walls, ceilings, and even subfloors play a part with overall acoustic plan for any room or office.But when it comes to commercial development, there is a feeling that South African property developers are still not fully aware of the value of acoustics in a working environment, and the need for aspects such as sound masking, and the correct choice of flooring and furnishing, to be addressed right at the outset: at the design stage. South African acoustics and electrical engineer, Terry Mackenzie-Hoy, gave his personal views in his regular column in Engineering News: “The acoustics of nearly every public building in this country are rubbish. Noise levels are too high. Employees are placed in open plan offices where they work ineffectively owing to the noise levels. The reasons are simple: there is no degree offered in acoustics, qualified acoustics engineers are rare and have no influence. There is a general ignorance about the need for good acoustics. A single workstation in an open plan office costs R28 000 – but nothing is spent on trying to create conditions where a person will actually work at that workstation.” n
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The acoustics of nearly every public building in this country are rubbish. Noise levels are too high. Employees are placed in open plan offices where they work ineffectively owing to the noise levels.
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YAY! THE LOCAL FMS START GETTING INVOLVED!
D
ear Terry
From John Howell, CEO Rescov.
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The JFM OPS Section “Toilet Training – Where do you ‘stand on this issue?” March 2015 caught my eye. Offensive odours are caused by microbial activity and obviously the source of the problem has to be addressed in resolving the problem. Has anyone tried any of the new Nanotechnology products in this regard? Nanotechnology is the act of manipulating materials at very tiny scales – essentially at atomic and molecular size levels. When materials have some of their dimensions under 100 nanometres, the normal rules of physics and chemistry often no longer apply. Resulting from this, many material start to display unique properties, for instance, their ability to conduct electricity and rate of reactivity increase dramatically. Solids like gold can, for example, turn into a liquid at room temperature, silver has increased anti-microbial properties and inert materials like platinum become a catalyst while aluminium becomes combustible. These newly discovered properties of nanoscale materials have opened up incredible opportunities not only in the fields of study, but also in their diversified possible applications. The product MonoFoil was developed to sterilise surfaces in surgical wards and intensive care units in hospitals. The product is
not a chemical, but an antimicrobial solution of which the active ingredients are contained in an aqueous solution. To understand the structure and operation of the product, visualise a string of molecules in the shape of a sword. The short “handle-end” attaches itself to any surface; for example, wood, metals, plastics or fabrics. The solution will adhere to the surface as a transparent and durable, antimicrobial film that will not transfer on contact with other surfaces. The “long-end” of the sword contains a molecule that has a positive electrical charge, which draws all negatively charged bacteria, algae, viruses and fungi from the air. As it has a sharp point, this end will penetrate the outer membrane or the organism, pulling it down on itself, and then discharge its electrical load, electrocuting the organism. This process is repeated over and over again, creating a barrier against the transfer of illness-provoking organisms for more than a month. We always find it difficult to comprehend the possibilities contained in products operating on this incredibly small scale. The product has unlimited applications. It is suited to all industries and places that have a high concentration of people – aeroplane cabins (even Boeing approved it!), trains, buses, shopping and office complex ventilation systems, restaurant kitchens, schools, factories, desks, computers, phones, hostels,
FM OPS
mortuaries, hospitals, clinics, food and flower cultivation tunnels, abattoirs and butcheries – to name just a few. The integrity of the product has been tested and certified by various international health authorities and its ability to improve the quality of human life cannot be disputed. Try it yourself. Should you desire any more information, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned at john@rescov.co.za.
NEW FROM THE UK BIFM LINKEDIN SITE……. Mice eating seatbelts in school vehicles
Hatton Gardens Safe Deposit centre in the UK turned out to be not-so-safe!
DARING SAFE DEPOSIT BOX RAID – MILLIONS IN JEWELS STOLEN NO RESPONSE TO ALARM BY POLICE
Keith Doidge Maintenance supervisor at Witherslack Hall School. I am struggling to stop mice eating the seatbelts in the school minibuses. All vehicles are cleaned out but mickey keeps coming back! The next move is traps and peppermint oil repellent but has anyone used this oil? Does it work? I am slightly concerned if it is a very strong smell that it may upset some of the young people travelling in the minibus. Any advice appreciated as it is not only the cost of replacement seatbelts but also the inconvenience of being a bus down while it is in the garage. Adam Clayfield Group Commercial Director at Cloudfm In my experience your only hope is to catch them, overnight sticky boards are the best, it’s a bit brutal and not the most pleasant experience for you or mickey but expecting them to move out and ignore that discarded Snickers because the minibus smells a bit minty is, I’m afraid, doomed to failure. Keith Doidge Cheers Adam, you hit the nail on the head! I think with “discarded snickers”, once I’d got the staff to clean out the buses properly the problem was reduced. We no longer park near the woods as well so I think they are taking the hint!
Is anybody else concerned about this development, like I am? How many of us have our fire/ intruder/ panic alarms (Red Care) connected to the fire and or police via a central monitoring station? This seems to me to be worrying a development from lots of aspects.. Discuss. James Allen Glass Safety & Security Risk Assessor / Consultant, London It turns out that the Met Police have a policy that if there are 3 false alarms within a 12 month period then anything after that will not be dealt with as needing a response. This is why the police didn’t turn up because it turns out the company were warned to get their false alarms fixed and they chose to ignore the warning. So looking at the evidence, the police are not at fault. Paul Field Delivering safety and security Wire-Free Protection Limited WFP Fire & Security Louise, James is correct about the three strikes rule, however the client should have been made aware that this was the case and if they were using an accredited company (SSAIB or NSI) then this company should have been asked to solve the false alarm problem, which could have been solved through technical means or even just advise on misuse of the system (if it was user error). All of this is simple to solve – for example, if they keep forgetting the code then change the method to proximity tag therefore negating the issue of incorrect codes.
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How many of us have our fire/ intruder/ panic alarms connected to the fire and or police via a central monitoring station? This seems to me to be a worrying development from lots of aspects..
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FM OPS
The issue that this raises is that knowing that they had no police cover why did they not employ an alternative method of alerting the authorities such as manned security response to the alarm or at the very least alerting the key holders both of which do not depend upon the system being good enough for police response, they could have provided the monitoring company with remote access to their CCTV, which is generally pretty straightforward. Without knowing the details of the client and contractors involved then this is speculation but it does raise questions about why alternatives were not in place given the risk involved. Louise B Ahh... very interesting. Needless to say, the false alarms have not made it onto the top of the press yet. Thanks for great info. Yes agreed, any competent FM or FM company would have ensured all the false alarms were dealt with pronto and rectified. Interesting they had no guards at least covering the CCTV in this age of high tech... Paul Field Delivering safety and security Wire-Free Protection Limited WFP Fire & Security No doubt this will get more interesting over time, especially considering the values involved, I found this link to an article that has some more details. It (the article) does assume that the police are at fault, however it seems that they were just following their rules which points the question back to the decision makers at the facility in question. http://www.mirror. co.uk/news/uk-news/hatton-garden-heist-cctvproves-5498421 Rob Farman CEng CBIFM MCIBSE Agent at PBA Energy Solutions Ltd The ACPO ‘3 strikes and you are out’ rule on security alarms has been around, I think, ever since I came into FM about 20 years ago. When securing personal property of great value is its core business, there no excuse for such a firm not knowing the ACPO Rule. Also, the CCTV footage was released later. What an earth was happening about monitoring it over the long time that the burglary took place? Again, surely, any responsible firm securing valuables would have had constant monitoring of CCTV. Also, if it the firm was receiving alarm calls, why was it not conducting its own checks? To me, standard practice in the FM industry is: monitor your IDS; check the CCTV for signs of intruders; and, if concerned, send somebody to site to check. If there are signs of intruders, then call the police. Incidentally, when studying for my final exams at university, a burglar alarm kept going off nearby and nobody responded. After several incidents like that over a week, a couple of the more athletic stu-
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Giant vault doors pose no threat to highly trained robbers.
dents got onto the flat roof just below the alarm bell and smashed it revengefully to smithereens. It was that lack of response by IDS owners that led to the ACPO False IDS Alarms Rule. Like politicians, journalists are generalists that lack specific knowledge, which is the reason both professions are least respected in the UK as survey after survey shows. They would not understand the ACPO False IDS Alarms Rule and it makes better copy to criticise the Met’ Police than a firm completely unknown to the public. Finally, it is highly likely that there was inside knowledge available to the burglars and, if so, I wonder how high up it extended? James Swift LLB (Hon’s) MSyI Head of Security Engineering Louise, the issue as I see it is that the overall system was not evaluated at a performance level based on the likely threat types and attack vectors. Security solutions should be a threat based design and all identified and credible threats should be run through the solutions before the final one is selected. Reliance on a specific response should only be based on tangible statistics, a police response is neither guaranteed nor uniform (pardon the pun) and as such, when the asset being secured is of high value (monetary or otherwise) the response phase of the solution should be more reliable than a police response. A sequential alarm will not tell anyone what attack type (if any) is taking place and as such it is unlikely that the initial police response would have been sufficient to deal with the threat of they had responded. In short, the police are accountable but not responsible. The organisation and their security team should consider a much more informed approach when, and if, they return to operations. Any suggestions as to who will play the lead in the movie? n
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Green FM
TARGETING ‘THE GREENEST RESIDENCE’
Using Innovative Building Technology and optimal architectural design, Stellenbosch University’s new 208-bed student residence, which is currently under construction, will help address the major accommodation shortage at the university in the Western Cape.
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T
he R43-million Tygerberg campus residence, which is being built by student accommodation group, STAG African, will make use of light steel frame building and incorporate energy-saving features such as LED lighting and heat pumps, which will use 50% less electricity than a standard building. The residence, which is due for completion in November 2015, has set its sights on being the greenest residence in Africa. “Sustainability and innovation are at the forefront of our green agenda; more than being a key focus for the university, our students expect it,” says Pieter Kloppers, the Director of Student Communities at the University of Stellenbosch. “Based on the success of Ubuntu House, our first green residence developed by STAG African, we look forward to the completion of the new residence, which will go a long way in
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2 addressing the accommodation shortage at our Tygerberg medical campus.” By focusing on the students themselves, STAG African have pioneered a cost-effective, green alternative to building; “We wanted an optimal architectural design that ensured every square meter of the building was designed specifically for the needs of the student,” says John Schooling, MD of STAG African.
3 While campuses are expanding, taking on more students and adding new departments, the one area of university life that is lagging is the issue of student accommodation. “The cost of student accommodation is very expensive; the national norm is around R280 000 per bed and for a lot of universities, that’s unaffordable. We looked around for a building method that we could apply to the South African context and discovered a substantially cheaper solution to bricks and mortar; something that is much better,” says Schooling.
The original structure is assembled.
The building starts taking shape.
A crane lifts part of the roof section of the residence.
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Green FM
Used to build the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building and the old and new World Trade Centres, Innovative Building Technology has been widely used in many developed countries. Not only does it reduce carbon footprint, it also dramatically reduces the cost and time taken to construct buildings. “Using this technology, we can reduce building time by 40% and the costs associated to it dramatically. For universities, where cost ultimately is the deciding factor, it’s an obvious choice. By default, it addresses the
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student’s need for a green living environment.” “Accommodation for students is more than providing a place to sleep. It’s about creating communities – a listening, learning and living environment. This is crucial to the success of the housing facilities provided by the university,” says Kloppers. “Student housing, over and above providing a place to sleep, creates a sense of belonging; for many, it’s where real integration and camaraderie takes place.” n
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Using this technology, we can reduce building time by 40% and the costs associated to it dramatically.
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Green FM Opinion
HOW GREEN IS GREEN?
W
hile I agree that the GBCSA has done remarkable work in the field of greener buildings, there is still too much emphasis being placed on addressing the symptoms and not the cause. Greening a building is a great start, and it costs a small fortune in many cases, but unless this is paired with an initiative that changes behaviour and consumption patterns, no matter what technology is used, the results are not sustainable. For some time we have been looking to partner with the GBCSA in providing a seamless service that not only ensures that the built environment is environmentally responsible, but that the businesses that take residence are provided with workable environmental management systems that are designed to identify, manage, mitigate and avoid a myriad of ‘human’ elements that the GBCSA cannot address. We often come across businesses that believe they are green because their building has been designed for ‘green’ or because they have a recycling system in place for their paper (or other isolated initiatives). Your article asks ‘How green is officially green’ (UGF, December 2014) and building green is only one component of the overall journey. Unless the built environment is supported and developed through the people that interact with it, it matters little that you may have spent an additional million-or-two on installing a state-of-the-artenergy system. Being green encompasses all aspects of responsible business; from the construction and products used during the development phase to the way in which that technology is used; the way resource use is minimised; the way the business interacts with its community; the way the staff interact with visitors and clients and a host of other elements. Can a business really be considered ‘green’ if it does everything by the book, but continues to make poor procurement choices (by purchasing harmful chemicals and products), or fails to measure consumption and set targets for improvement; or act as though it has nothing to do with the local community in respect of upliftment, employment and financial beneficiation? No, that is not ‘green’ and the faster we start recognising it, the better our economy will be.
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The President may have lofty ideals when it comes to ‘green’ – his decision to retrofit all government buildings with energy-saving systems is the only initiative so far, but he fails to address issues related to water, waste, procurement processes, travel and a host of other important elements in the ‘green’ recipe. When we are staring electricity shortages in the eye – as we are, it is easy to forget the other elements of green and that will simply lead to our economy limping from one critical situation to the next unless we look at the question of ‘green’ holistically. We are facing dire water shortages at this point, and Johannesburg and other Metro’s are faced with burgeoning waste management costs and rapidly filling dump-sites; and the green economy has done very little for the average man in the street and our dysfunctional rail network contributes to more vehicles on the road. We can go on, but truth is that as the saying goes, ‘you can’t be half-pregnant’ and the question of ‘how green is official green’ is simple. Either address all your impacts in a holistic manner or stop calling yourself green. Terminology such as ‘green’, ‘responsible’, ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘earth friendly’ and ‘sustainable’ deserve to be protected in an effort to stop the greenwashing taking place in South Africa. When a seemingly ‘responsible’ retailer admits to their ‘earth friendly’ range of products not being environmentally responsible, we need to take everything from that company with a pinch of salt. The same goes for any developer who builds a ‘green’ building without it being recognised by the GBCSA or anyone else for that matter. Creating a green building or ‘brand’ is a question of money – if you have it you can get it done, but creating sustainability is a question of habit and trust. Unless we deal with the cause of the problem and the way in which we deal with our limited resources across the spectrum, going green will remain a cop-out and an ongoing example of greenwashing. n
Greg McManus, MD, The Environmental Management Company
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Unless the built environment is supported and developed through the people that interact with it, it matters little that you may have spent an additional million-or-two on installing a state-of-the-art energy system.
Annual Conference 3 – 4 June 2015 Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand,Gauteng.
3 – 4 June 2015 Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand,Gauteng.
Facilities Management in a Rapidly Changing Environment Meet new contacts and build networks Discover cost-effective solutions Face-to-face appointments with key suppliers Test drive the latest products and services Stay up-to-date with emerging & changing trends For more information or to book a stand: www.fmexo.org | info@fmexpo.org Office: +27 (0)11 781 5970 In Association with:
• Keynote speakers will include industry leaders and FM specialists. • Learn, network and share insights and experiences. Visit www.safma.co.za for the full programme, to view speaker biographies and to book your seat. Email info@safma.co.za for more information Platinum Conference Sponsor:
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Green FM News
Renewable revolution is well underway
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hile South Africa grapples with constrained power supply and regular load shedding, a quiet revolution in renewable energy is taking place – often in remote and unnoticed parts of the country. According to Craig Pace, Director at international heavy lift, abnormal transport and installations specialist Vanguard, this revolution has already brought substantial benefits, saving the economy billions of rands in diesel and coal that Eskom would have to have burnt to keep the lights on. “A recent report from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) shows that the 1 600 MW of renewable energy installed by December 2014 has saved the country over R5-billion,” says Pace. He said that 32 renewable energy projects had already been completed and connected to the grid, with government planning to more than double this figure by reaching 3 625 MW by 2030. “What is really encouraging about these developments is that they are producing electricity at a very competitive cost – so that the net financial benefits of renewables will remain positive even in the future when the national grid is less constrained,” he said. The Integrated Energy Research Centre at CSIR reported that the cost per kilowatt/hour (kWh) of renewable energy for new projects
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Vanguard transports an 87 tonne tower section. is now well below R1 for solar photo-voltaic (PV) production and between 60c-80c for wind projects. “The government’s three Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) bid windows have procured more than 60 renewables projects, with combined capacity of 3,900 MW,” says Pace. “Another 77 bids were received in the fourth REIPPPP window last year, indicating the enthusiasm and investment appetite of many foreign companies.” The private investment associated with the projects procured to date amounts to R140-billion. Vanguard has been integrally involved with a number of pioneering wind farms around South Africa in recent years, according to Pace. “We have engineered efficient solutions for dealing with the large and complex wind turbine components being imported for wind farm projects – from discharging the vessel, specialised transport requirements to the hard stands, on-site lifting/erection and elec-
trical installations of 108 wind turbine generators,” he said. Among the recent contracts completed have been the West Coast One wind farm near Vredenburg on the Western Cape coast, where Vanguard erected 20 Vestas V90 2.0 MW turbine generators with its GTK1100 crane, and the Chaba wind farm near Komga in the Eastern Cape, where the company discharged seven Vestas V112-3.0 MW wind turbine generators from the vessel, off-loaded into a storage area, and reloaded for transport to the wind farm. Other projects include the Grassridge wind farm, also near Port Elizabeth, the Noblesfontein wind farm near Victoria West in the Northern Cape, and Metrowind’s Van Stadens wind farm in the Eastern Cape. “These contracts have shown that Vanguard is the only South African-owned company with the expertise and capacity – including fully-licensed and registered equipment – to offer a full turnkey project solution to the
growing wind-energy market,” said Pace. “Our commitment to clients is always to deliver on time and within budget, without compromising safety.” Vanguard’s fleet of specialised equipment includes the GTK 1100 telescopic mobile tower crane – the only unit in the Southern Hemisphere - which has proved invaluable in many of the wind farm installations. n
Vanguard’s GTC crane erects wind turbine generator at Grassridge.
C
oncrete is increasingly becoming the roof covering material of choice for a variety of practical as well as ‘green’ reasons, says Bryan Perrie, MD of The Concrete Institute. Perrie says the development of sophisticated computer modelling systems has elevated roof design and construction far beyond the most basic functional purpose of shelter and into the realm of attractive architectural creations. “In line with these trends, advances in concrete technology and waterproofing technology now make it possible to transform fantastic concepts into impressive roofing reality,” he says. “Designed accordingly at the inception phase, flat concrete roofs can allow for additional storeys to be added later as the need arises, or when funds become available, for increased densification, thereby further optimising the use of well-located land and existing services. “As the demand for available land in the city centre increases, there is increased pressure to develop current open green spaces. With city centre space at a premium, a flat concrete roof presents an innovative opportunity to offset the carbon footprint of a building by using potentially lost green space at roof level in the form of a water-wise roof garden.
In crowded cities, a flat concrete roof can reduce the carbon footprint of a building through water-wise roof gardens, says The Concrete Institute. This has become increasingly popular in commercial office blocks, for example. “Food roof gardens are appearing in many parts of the world, presenting new socio-economic benefits in the affordable housing market. At the same time, thermal insulation is also improved significantly inside a building with a roof garden.” Perrie says the affordable housing market has seen rapid growth in the specification of concrete roof tiles as the roof covering material of choice. “The timeless aesthetic appeal of concrete roof tiles undoubtedly transforms a
house into a home. It requires no additional finish, is labour-intensive, and has low-maintenance requirements. Furthermore, the roof pitch enhances interior thermal comfort by encouraging the convectional flow of hot and cold air through natural ventilation. “Whether specifying in-situ or precast concrete as a roof application, designers can create shelter that is at the same time both attractive and sustainable by harnessing concrete’s natural qualities of sculptural flexibility, durability, affordability and thermal mass in conjunction with best practices and quality construction tech- Bryan Perrie, MD of The Concrete Institute. niques,” he says. n
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Green FM News
Winery proves a wow with solar sizzle
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ying on the slopes of the magnificent Simonsberg Mountain, Quoin Rock Farm and Winery in Stellenbosch has gone mostly off the grid and invested in a renewable energy solution by the global leader in energy management, Schneider Electric, to produce its complex and full-bodied wines. The solar solution was deployed by Emergent Energy, a Schneider Electric alliance partner, offering state-of-the-art solutions in grid-tied and offgrid renewable energy systems,. “Schneider Electric’s 103 kilowatt peak system was installed on a single north-facing rooftop together with 5x20 kilowatt peak Schneider Electric inverters and Trina Solar 300 watt solar photovoltaic modules,” says Leon Hailstones, transactional products channel manager for Schneider Electric’s
solar business in southern Africa. According to Yoann Joyeux, managing director at Emergent Energy, Quoin Rock Wine Farm and Winery opted for the solution in a bid to save up to 50% of its total electricity consumption, for the next 25 years at least and hedge its operating costs. In addition, the project fitted into Quoin Rock’s sustainability ethos, as it is critically aware of the sensitivity of the environment and special efforts are made to use environmentally responsible farming methods to encourage and preserve the rich biodiversity of local fauna and flora. “In our opinion, the Schneider Electric brand is one that clients can relate to – from its industrial automation products to its solar solutions and more – all-encompassing an energy-efficient principle,” adds Joyeux.
Solar power at Stellenbosch winery Schneider Electric offers a complete solution for photovoltaic integration and connection including power conversion (inverters, transformers and switchgear), electrical distribution, monitoring, supervision and technical support. “Emergent Energy received incredible support from Schneider Electric throughout this project – from business development to installation. “We were also very pleased to offer our client a full electrical solution – starting with the inverter to the final electrical output - from one single manufacturer, resulting in easier procurement and risk reduction,” says Joyeux. n
Green honours in UK for SA’s Michael Back
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nnounced in London recently, Michael Back of Backsberg Estate Cellars, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the environment, sustainability, ethical practices and education. Underlining its impeccable green credentials and just ahead of the farm’s centenary in 2016, Backsberg also walked off with the Amorim Sustainability Award for Wine at the annual The Drinks Business Green Awards ceremony. Michael Back is renowned for challenging conventions in terms of environmental action and sustainability. He is also well respected for his community work and passion for social
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responsibility. Michael joined his father at the farm in 1976, after graduating in Viticulture and Oenology at Stellenbosch University. In 2006, Backsberg became the first carbon neutral winery in South Africa and the third in the world. The focus on the farm for the last decade has been on reducing the emissions impact through reduction in fuel and electricity usage. At the same time, Backsberg initiated an environmental impact study and has made sustainability core to the business. The farm is developing biomass energy crops and the cleaned methane from the bio-digester will be harnessed to power converted farm vehicles and to power an electricity generator.
Michael’s son, Simon, accepts the award on his father’s behalf. Michael’s son, Simon, the fourth generation at the farm, collected the award on Tuesday April 21 on his behalf at a ceremony held in London. “This is a very special honour for my father and I am delighted to be here to collect not only this award but the Amorim
Sustainability Award too. I know my father would want to say that this is a Backsberg team effort. We are committed to driving sustainability and both these awards are great recognition for our commitment to serving the environment.” n
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Green FM
V&A scores a double coup
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n a double coup for the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) has awarded both Victoria Wharf and the property’s BP Building 4-star ‘Existing Building’ ratings, reflecting the buildings’ high-level environmentally friendly and sustainable operating efficiency. Victoria Wharf and the BP Building join the Silo District’s No 1 Silo, which was awarded South Africa’s first ever 6-star ‘As Built’ rating last year, making the V&A Waterfront possibly the greenest precinct in Cape Town. “Sustainability is an integral part of operations at the V&A Waterfront, and we are committed to leadership in sustainability practices in both our future and current development plans. We are thrilled with the addition of Victoria Wharf and the BP Building to our green-rated buildings because we believe it shows follow-through on our environmental promises, and our genuine commitment to leaving a sustainable legacy for future generations,” says David Green, CEO of the V&A Waterfront. The V&A Waterfront’s Victoria Wharf, which houses the bulk
of retail trade at the Waterfront in 70 000m2 of floor space, is the first shopping centre in South Africa to be awarded a 4-star green rating. Similarly, the 9 000m2 BP Building was the first commercial-scale office development in Cape Town that consciously encompassed green building principles in its design and construction. Both green-star ratings will be valid for three years before the GBCSA’s assessment must be repeated to ensure the sustainability practices have continued. The GBCSA’s ratings are determined by a building’s performance in a nine categories: management, indoor environmental quality, energy, transport, water, materials, land use and ecology, emissions, and innovation. Each category is divided into credits, which address the initiatives put in place to improve a building’s environmental performance. Victoria Wharf achieved an outstanding 53 out of 59 potential points, leading to its 4-star rating. Not to be outdone, the BP Building received 45 out of 49 points, which also led to its new 4-star rating. Green features in the build-
Victoria Wharf at the V&A
ings include drip irrigation, lighting controls, electrical sub-metering, a high-performance chilled water plant, use of natural lighting, and, importantly, the introduction of a Green Lease
Tenant Criteria Reference Manual, ensuring that not only are the buildings sustainable, but that their tenants enhance the eco-friendly environment. n
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