S CE UN NO E E UB AN UTUR SID CL E F IN KFAST OR TH A F RE DA E B GEN mM A E f ITS TH
An ITP Business Publication | November 2009 Vol. 04 Issue 11
Essential information for FM & strata professionals, building owners, developers & contractors
MODUS OPERANDI CATCHING UP WITH MODUS’ NEW MD, NIGEL HAMBLY
SHOW REPORTS CHECK CK OUT fmMEE’’ss COVERAGE OF CITYSCAPE DUBAI AND BIG 5
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HEIGHTS
Architects design buildings to look pretty. Engineers make them stand up. But who cleans and maintains the Gulf’s skylines?
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CONTENTS
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 2009
02
02 WHAT’S ON THE WEB
The online portal for fmME keeps you up-to-date with all the trends, features and comments about Middle East construction.
07 NEWS 10 08
German FMs headed to Dubai. Johnson Controls partners with Motorola. Hines & ADNP to manage real estate. Transguard Group acquires MACAir. ista ME tackles consumption-based billing.
10 Q&A
Nigel Hambly, managing director of Modus Middle East, speaks to Stuart Matthews about setting up shop in the GCC’s FM industry.
16 fmME Breakfast Club
The first order of business was to help create MEFMA. That’s done. The October meeting was all about setting the agenda.
19 Feature: Rope access
10
Stuart Matthews gets up close and personal with those responsible for keeping GCC skylines working and looking pristine.
25 The Big 5
From cleaning products to wastewater treatment, access control and fire protection, there is a slew of products and suppliers relevant to the FM industry at The Big 5 exhibition this year.
28 Comment
Alan Millin talks about the unique training of FM professionals and why its essential that they’re included from design stage.
19
30 Big Issue
Switzerland’s Belimo Automation has suggested that Dubai’s regulations of fire doors need to be to be more thorough & effective.
35 Cityscape
Gerhard Hope identifies the newest trend from Cityscape Dubai: “Cityscape is no longer about design, it’s about constructability”
35 www.constructionweekonline.com
39 PROJECT UPDATE
Kuwait Projects Database An update of ongoing projects from Ventures Middle East
November 2009 1
WHAT’S ON THE WEB
the online home of:
IN PICTURES
5 MOST POPULAR
• UK asks UAE to pay
construction firms • High rise fire in Sharjah • In the budget • Sustainability still mostly ‘green wash’ • New project director for Tiger Woods Dubai
ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT The first F1 track in UAE history. In a word, it is amazing. The hotel is state-of-the-art. The venue is pristine. The stands, snack bars, restrooms and relaxation space are all integrated seamlessly within the seating structure. And the track is at once a testament to engineering pre-eminence and aesthetic brilliance. For more galleries, check out: www.constructionweekonline.com/in_pictures/
COLUMNS & FEATURES GLASS TOWERS WILL ALWAYS BE ICONIC
CAN THE GCC REALLY GO GREEN
The move to sustainability will not sound the death knell for iconic buildings in the region, say VE Solutions’ Arkady Siterman and Eugene Siterman.
The UAE Ministry of Environment & Water, UN Uni., Arab Media Group and LG Electronics ME signed the Greenomics Conference 2009 Protocol.
US $2.65bn UPTOWN BAHRAIN SHELVED
ARE YOU LEEDing THE INDUSTRY ON?
The US $2.65 billion Uptown Bahrain development has been shelved indefinitely and may never be built according to a senior source at Fortune Investment House (FIH).
The preservation of our environment is climbing up many people’s agendas and green building products can contribute, in a big way. Construction Week delves into the issue.
For more columns & features, go to: www.constructionweekonline.com/comments 2 November 2009
For breaking news, go to: www.constructionweekonline.com/news/ Stories selected October 25-31, 2009
EDITOR’S CHOICE • Contractor detained over
deadly roof collapse • Single business tower due four months early • US $2.65bn Uptown Bahrain shelved • Green buildings are ‘sensible’ and ‘logical’ • The culling of transparency Stories selected October 25-31, 2009
POLL: Who do you want
to see interviewed next? 37.5% A government official. What are leaders thinking? 37.5% A contractor. What’s happening on the ground? 25.0% A developer. What big projects are coming up? To vote in spot polls, go to: www.constructionweekonline.com
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EDITOR’S LETTER
These days, everyone’s a jack of all trades ell, it’s me again. Back at the helm of facilities management Middle East and ready to listen to those willing to teach me all that I don’t understand about this all-ecompassing, all-things-to-all-people industry. Long time readers may remember a short stint at the end of 2008 when fmME was under my control. I seem to remember some of those same readers chastizing me for not really understanding facilities management. Fair enough. Well, now I’m back as interim editor, I understand more, although perhaps only slightly, about facilties management and more importantly, as any good journalist, I’m willing to listen to my readers. For the first time I was able to attend a Breakfast Club meeting and, to be honest, everyone reading this magazine needs to contact Stephen Barker to reserve your space around the table. It was fascinating to listen to the collective experience in the room talk about the issues in the industry and to know, like they did with MEFMA, that these same people have the influence and ability to effect change in one of the region’s fastest growing industries.
W
In this issue, Stuart Matthews got up close and personal with those poor souls tasked with dangling themselves off a rope in an effort to clean and maintain the skylines of the Middle East. As the cover image (courtesy of Megarme) suggests, when I say cleaning the skylines, I mean it quite literally. It’s one of those oft-required yet highly under appreciated skill sets that makes a real difference in the aesthetics and functionality of facilities. Speaking of diverse job descriptions, Gerhard Hope, editor of MEP Middle East, contributed to this month’s issue with post-show coverage of Cityscape Dubai and pre-show coverage of Big 5, not to mention a good bit of news. And, in recognition of the many hats worn by FMs, Alan Millin’s monthly column addresses the very popular sentiment that FMs need to be more involved at the design stage of buildings. Including them is paramount, says Millin, because FMs are uniquely trained to consider both the technical aspects of how a building functions as well as the aesthetic aspects of how it looks and feels for end users. These days, its seems, everyone’s a jack of all trades.
& strata professionals, building
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owners, developers & contractors
A HING UP WITH MODUS’ CATCHING CATC NEW GM, NIGEL HAMBLY
SHOW REPORTS
Senior Group Editor Stuart Matthews Group Editor Jeff Roberts Contributing Editor Gerhard Hope Tel: +971 4 435 6252 email: gerhard.hope@itp.com Contributor: Alan Millin
Certain images in this issue are available for purchase. Please contact itpimages@itp.com for further details or visit www.itpimages.com.
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ITS B AG REA INS EN KFA ID DA S E FO T C R TH LU B E F AN UTU NOU RE NC ES
Issue 11 | November 2009 Vol. 04
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HEIGHTS
to look pretty. Architects design buildings up. But who Engineers make them stand Gulf’s skylines? cleans and maintains the
THIS MONTH’S COVER: Image provided courtesy of Megarme
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6 November 2009
P.O. Box 91812, Dubai, U.A.E. Tel: +971 4 258 4100 Fax: +971 4 258 4155 Email: sales@grakonet.com Web: www.grakonet.com www.constructionweekonline.com
NEWS
German FM consultant heads for Dubai Focus International Life Cycle Management has already secured various contracts in Abu Dhabi Dubai, UAE // German FM consultant Focus International Life Cycle Management JLT has established a local branch under MD Werner O. Maluck. It has already secured work in Abu Dhabi, and is set to make a significant impact on the local market. Commenting on establishing a new FM consultancy in view of the downturn, Maluck says that “now is the ideal time to launch, with the emphasis on reducing costs and optimising resources.” “Our activities are centred on generating lasting savings for the owners of real estate and technical facilities,” explained Kay Glenewinkel at the official launch of the local company. “Our approach is to home in on the most significant expenses in the areas of maintenance and operations.”
Cutting maintenance and operational costs is a key focus of sustainability
Glenewinkel commented that a relatively simple measure such as replacing all ordinar y lightbulbs in an hotel, for example, could generate significant long-term cost-savings, as this will have ancillar y benefits such as reducing cooling costs.
The portfolio of FM ser vices offered by Focus in Dubai will cover technical issues such as optimising HVAC systems, elevators, smoke and heat exhaust ventilation systems, fire alarm systems and gate and door systems. Infrastructure FM
ser vices will focus on security, cleaning, landscaping and waste removal. Energy and environmental management includes aspects such as lighting design. “We also offer a complete over view and quality-control analysis of MEP/HVAC installations by a team of dedicated experts comprising FM managers, MEP technicians and building engineers,” explains Maluck. “We can provide support during contractual negotiations up to and including the deliver y and set-up of MEP/HVAC installations.” Glenewinkel commented that integrated FM, which included lifecycle costs analysis and sustainability, was increasingly becoming the norm as developers strove to optimise and organise technical and infrastructural ser vices.
Commercial property management
Global real-estate services contract
Abu Dhabi //
International //
The Abu Dhabi office of Hines, the international real estate firm, along with Abu Dhabi National Property Company PJSC (ADNP), the real estate arm and subsidiary of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), have announced the formation of a strategic alliance to become the UAE’s premier commercial and mixed-use property manager for select real estate projects in the Middle East. The announcement was made at the recent Abu Dhabi Investment Forum in London. Hines/ADNP will bring a world-class property management standard to the region, initially targeting commercial
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real estate in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to meet the high demand for professional property management in the UAE and other GCC countries. The alliance will deliver value-creating property management services at the strategic, tactical and operational levels to institutional owners, high-net-worth individuals and banks involved in real estate. ADNP is one of the primary real estate property management companies in Abu Dhabi, with a current portfolio of over 8,000 units under management. In addition to providing firstclass property management services, ADNP undertakes extensive in-house and external real estate valuation and adviso-
ry services. Hines has managed investment-grade properties for more than half a century, and is currently responsible for more than 11 million square metres of property around the world. “ADNP is very keen on working in partnership with the best-in-class, and in this regard we are delighted to have Hines, a prestigious name in property management, as a partner in this new initiative,” said ADNP GM Graham Hallett. “The guiding principles of our platform are quality, integrity and sustainability. We want to be the best-in-class ‘one-stop shop’ for real estate owners,” said Jurgen Herre, MD of Hines’ MENA Region.
Johnson Controls Global WorkPlace Solutions has entered into a comprehensive real-estate services contract with Motorola, Inc. Johnson Controls will manage the realestate transactions for Motorola facilities globally to support its aggressive global footprint reduction goals. “This contract expands Johnson Controls’ relationship with Motorola, which includes a long-standing FM contract in Asia, and recently-awarded facilities and project management contracts in India,” said Steven Quick, executive vice-president, Johnson Controls Global WorkPlace Solutions.
November 2009 7
NEWS
Transguard Group acquires MACAir The Transguard Group is supplementing its FM portfolio with MEP services so as to create new synergies Dubai, UAE // The Transguard Group has acquired Dubai MEP contractor MACAir. The acquisition comes on the back of Transguard recording an increase in turnover of 57% to AED607 million (US$165 million) and doubling its profit to AED75 million (US$20 million) during the last financial year. Transguard Group CEO Dr Abdulla Al Hashimi commented: “This acquisition forms an integral part of our mid- to longterm strategic business plan. MACAir is a renowned specialist in major design and installation projects and, just as importantly for us, it has the MEP maintenance capability that completes our total facilities management service offering.” Under the acquisition, MACAir, which turned over AED225 million last year, will become a separate business unit within the Transguard Group, operating alongside its three existing business units: FM Services, Cash Services and Outsourced Services. Another benefit: MACAir will also retain its trading name. As well as the obvious synergy between the compa-
8 November 2009
nies’ FM and MEP capabilities, Transguard’s technology systems expertise complements MACAir’s installation business. Dr Al Hashimi explained: “Our technical solutions business dovetails perfectly with a projectled installation business like MACAir. We can now confidently bid for turnkey contracts that demand total end-to-end project management.” MACAir MD Geoff Frost said: “Transguard is a very robust and diverse organisation, with a sound financial structure. This move will give MACAir the stability, as well as the all-round expertise, it requires to grow in stature and further explore and develop existing and potential business avenues.” Transguard Group’s existing facilities management clients include Dubai International Airport Terminal 3, Atlantis the Palm and Emaar Hospitality, while its airside services division provides a range of support services to the Emirates Airline, including cleaning the new Airbus A380 fleet. “This reinforces one of our key objectives – to enhance our reputation as one of the most professional and successful com-
Lynne McMurray with MACAir MD Geoff Frost.
Transguard CEO Dr Abdulla Al Hashimi.
“Our technical solutions business dovetails perfectly with a project-led installation business.” Transguard CEO Dr Abdulla Al Hashimi
panies in the UAE with a long and secure future,” concluded Dr Al Hashimi. Transguard’s Facilities Management division (TGFM) delivers carefully tailored and bespoke FM solutions built upon global standards. The division’s operational service delivery is designed along the FM continuum or whole lifecycle of a building or facility. Its FM consultancy team ensures that, from conceptual design through to construction
phase, the principles of costefficient, sustainable buildings are delivered to the client. The TGFM operational team then ensures that the assets, infrastructure and appearance of the building are maintained to the highest standards and in compliance with the client’s and constructor’s guidelines, municipality instructions and globallyrecognised standards. The division has proven expertise in providing a range of strategic review services.
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NEWS
“Whose energy are you paying for?” ista Middle East FZE managing director Tarek El-Far insists that consumption-based billing is a right Dubai, UAE // Metering is from the utility or district cooling plants to the building, while sub-metering occurs inside the building. The consumption cost is often distributed by square feet. This is not fair, argues El-Far, since “tenants do not know whose energy they are paying for, and cannot even arrange their own energy finances.” Consumption-based billing, on the other hand, means paying only for individual consumption based on the accurate reading of the sub-meter. El-Far adds that sub-metering stands to play a critical role in the ongoing sustainability debate, as it provides credits for ‘green’ building ratings, which is why it is becoming mandator y. “It is also proven to save 10% to 20%, but first you have to know exactly where energy is being used, so that you can manage it. Sub-metering identifies these areas. It helps facilities managers do a good job, and it helps optimise building designs and energy requirements. The innovative, technically superior solution from ista makes this a cinch,” says El-Far. He explains that ista is the global leader in energy and water consumption based billing. It stands behind more than 100 years of solid experience, with head offices in Germany, and a global presence and installations in 26 countries, plus millions of meters and billed units. Europe and the US are the main markets, ser ved by 4600 employees. In terms of the international parent company, ista Middle East is its extended arm. It was established in 2007 to
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“The economic downturn has enhanced the awareness of costsaving and energy efficiency.” handle the Middle East, GCC and North Africa. It is currently represented in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. “The UAE’s leaders are visionar y, always on the outlook for best global practices and innovative solutions, especially when it comes to energy savings and cutting carbon emissions, so this is the perfect hub for ista in the Middle East,” says El-Far. As a one-stop solutions provider, ista offers both M MBus and full radio frequency ncy technology, plus hardware, e, as well as a broad range of flexible billing solutions. Web portals, energy management, ment, retrofitting and consultancy ncy ser vices are also an integral gral part of the portfolio. The innovative wirelesss solution from ista is cuttingngedge technology. It features res bi-directional frequency, whereby meters are sending ding and receiving. This eliminates nates the need for numerous data ata concentrators, saving hardrdware cost and time during g installation and programming. ming. It combines all types of ennergy (chilled water, water, r, gas and electricity) in a single bill, and includes a tailor-made web portal. This system has recently been awarded a best practice award for outstanding performance. The same system has been specified for the iconic nic Burj Dubai, adds El-Far. The company’s customer er
base includes utilities, realestate developers, facilities managers and district cooling providers. Building management system suppliers and MEP contractors often also require such hardware. Mixed-use projects in general are another market segment. As to the company’s main challenges in the region: “We often talk about privatisation, outsourcing and co-operation govbetween the gov ernment and private sectors. However, this is still not the case in our field. Energy providers should
outsource ser vices and focus on their core business. Authorities like the Dubai Green Building Council and Estidama will make this happen,” argues El-Far. Commenting on the impact of the economic downturn on the business, El-Far says: “Ser vice businesses have been the least affected compared to others but, of course, it has slowed us down. Looking at the bright side, it has enhanced the awareness of cost-saving and energy efficiency. Recently we have seen confirmed signs of recover y, and we have absolute confidence in the GCC economy.” As for a final message to its customers: “I would urge all tenants and owners to find out whose energy are they really paying for, and to insist on their right of consumption-based billing. This will have a significant savings effect along the entire supply chain.”
Tarek El-Far
November 2009 9
Q&A
Modus operandi Facilities Management Middle East talks to Nigel Hambly about setting up shop in the GCC’s FM industry
igel Hambly first came to the Gulf in 1976, a time when the connection between Abu Dhabi and Dubai was in large part a sand track. Since then things have changed. Stints with a selection of big name corporations, then a brief try at retirement, have led to being involved with Modus, which officially started operations in June 2009. In this short time, the embryonic FM company has already tendered AED 135 million worth of work over 12 major projects and Hambly already has his sights set firmly on making a few important changes.
N
Nigel Hambly, managing director, Modus ME
fmME: What do you do? NH: My role is to steward the growth of the business into profitable areas. At the same time taking the Modus brand into new areas and business sectors, while making money and enhancing the brand. I have it ensure our brand represents that of a credible
10 November 2009
professional organisation, regardless of what we undertake; that approach has some upsides and some downsides. For instance we will not do certain types of work, we will also veer away from risk, but embrace work where we think it is credible to do. I think the successful organisations have always been protective of their brand and what it represents. My background is with Shell a company that is passionate about brand values; I carry that ethos with me today. By improving the FM delivery, we can add to the professional credibility of the FM industry in the GCC states, and if we can be a small part of that FM development I’ll be very pleased. fmME: What is Modus? NH: Historically, Modus was originally a design and fit out company at the high end of the market, for banks, hedge funds and that kind of thing. As a natural genesis customers came back to us and said ‘you’ve designed a high-tech environment, can please you maintain it’. So it started as maintenance and then progressed. It was not a designed organisation, but grew from customer demand, very similar to the emergence
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Q&A
of FM companies here. Modus has now become one of Europe’s leading design and fitout organisations , not on in the commercial sector but for data centres and high-tech labs. There’s a very limited number of players in this high tech sector.. In the UK it’s a mixture of full FM, some of it is around technology, combined with a substantial FM mobile fleet. We go from the white collar through to the blue collar. We established Modus here at the worst part of the recession; my experience says if you can make a company survive in the middle of a recession you should have a reasonably good platform to expand when the recovery begins. fmME: Can you explain the scope of Modus’ work? NH: Our scope is management and first tier supervisory control. We’re not interested in becoming a blue collar organisation here. What we bring is very comprehensive management techniques. We want to work with qualified partner organisations that have a very similar business ethic to us, in terms of being a credible organisation and what they want to achieve. The other aspect we bring is a wealth of international FM experience, which we can translate into advice for client, property owner, or end user. We can advise clients on appropriate methods, systems and processes and act as a first tier of expertise. I veer away from calling it consultancy, it’s a much broader spectrum than just specifying something, it’s the whole experience of designing, specifying, procuring and managing thereafter. With regard to our presence in the market place, I think the brand has become visible
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quite quickly. We’ve had a credible and quite comprehensive response from most of the clients we’ve dealt with. We’ve not been successful with everything because it is a very competitive market out there and, on a couple of occasions, we’ve been used as a bench mark, or free consultancy. fmME: You believe there needs to be a radical change in the way FM contractors are engaged, can you explain your views? NH: There are a number of things. Firstly, there is no standard form for FM contracts. All I’ve seen are plagiarised construction formats, with bits out of UK contracts. Therefore, there is no standardised framework to operate an FM contract under. Secondly, I do not like the inclusion of performance bonds in many forms of tender. I find this contrary to the precepts of the customer facing service approach the FM industry offers. They fly in the face of partnering and service orientation in as much as clients want a performance bond from you, but you don’t get any chance to get a reciprocal one from them. Effectively it
allows them to push payment out to 120 days, plus 10% on top, leaving FMs acting as a charity for six months. In my opinion, this represents a level of commercial immorality. They are expecting you to provide the best performance service possible and they, in return, are not reciprocating in their support of you doing that. Essentially,tThey are squeezing you for money and using you as a bank. fmME: What do you see as a viable alternative? NH: What I would like to see happen is a radical change in the way FMs contract with their clients. I think some models used in Europe can be easily transposed here. They should use performance management models, so you have a defined contract output, linked to very objective measurements and qualified against a financial element of your contract, which can be put at risk for non-performance. The other element I’d like to see, one which we are promoting, is an absolutely transparent cost model , where both the supply chain and our own organisation costs are exposed
“I don’t like those things that have crept in called performance bonds. I find them contrary to what you are trying to achieve with FM…clients want a performance bond from you, but you don’t get any chance to get one from them. Effectively it allows them to push payment out to 120 days, plus 10% on top, leaving FMs acting as a charity for six months. In my opinion this represents a level of commercial immorality.”
to an absolute level. We then agree a management fee, which covers profit and overheads. This is defined from day one and then the objective beyond that is to reduce the supply chain costs through management, innovation and technology. The whole object of FM is not to squeeze profit out of a fixed price contract but to provide the best cost/value ratio. This role reverses, we are there as the client’s custodian of the cost base associated with maintaining that building; we are then incentivised to maintain a high standard and reduce costs at the same time. fmME: At the end of the day, what do you end up with? NH: The result, then, is an optimised cost. It is this costvalue equation that people need to understand and manage professionally. Property owners are investing huge sums in properties. We’re in an extremely hostile environment in terms of degradation of materials and machinery and yet owners scrimp and save on the technical management and maintenance of this equipment. There is a proven processes, called lifecycle management, where there are numerous examples of where asset lifecycle management actually reducing overall lifecycle costs for a building. If you look at buildings we hope are going to be standing in 20 years, you don’t want owners dipping into their pockets for large capital sums in 10 years time, to replace equipment that if maintained properly would probably have another 5 -10 years in it. If management technology is brought in alongside FM, along with different approaches to contracting, you can have
November 2009 11
Q&A
“I think that if I was realistic I would predict a very mature FM industry, in the UAE especially, probably within the next 5-7 years.”
a much more effective industry and FMs can be far more effective in helping property owners long-term. FMs are there to operate buildings effectively and protect assets for owners.
MEFMA is an ideal platform that can be used to introduce these principles and ideas and some of it can be accelerated through by legislation. The second thing is to get some of the bigger client organisations
“My background says if you can make a company survive in the middle of a recession you should have a reasonably good platform when the recovery begins.” fmME: How can you effect change in the FM industry? NH: We will engage with organisations and customers who want to explore this. This transition needs to occur and there are a number of ways it can happen.
12 November 2009
to break the mold and go after different contracts and move toward the output specification models linked to asset life cycle management. This will allow FM companies to be more innovative in return. Clients need to move
away from prescriptive tendering, leaving FM organisations to put forward a more innovative approach. It’s going to take a number of years, this is not something that is going to happen overnight. I think that if I was realistic I predict a very mature FM industry, in the UAE especially, probably within the next 5-7 years. You will start to see a highly credible and professional industry that supports the property owners and affects a better care of their assets. It is slightly utopian, but the industry has to set its sights high if it wants to achieve that. fmME: As GM, what do you want Modus to achieve over the next 18 months? NH: I’d like to see us with a number of premier contracts
under out belt, to give us the platform to grow futher. I see us being more active in commercial buildings than in the residential market. I see a larger proportion of our growth occurring in Abu Dhabi and other GCC states. We need to choose the right customers for a viable business; I don’t want to be the biggest necessarily, I just want to be the most reputable. I would sooner maintain ourselves as a highly defined player in the market, rather than be all things to all men. I always see the business being domiciled in Dubai. There is a lot to offer here, but we are still a couple of years away from the market being sufficiently settled for Modus to derive the growth that we anticipate.
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November 2009 13
GULF
H.E. SHEIKH Sultan Al Qasimi
ULTRA
is a specialist cleaning company, with a division specializing in rope access solutions. A British run business, formed in the UAE in 2006, bringing with us over 25 years of experience gained throughout Europe & Australia. ULTRA are one of the Middle East’s leading Supplier of industrial rope access services, providing a broad range of expertise in difficult access areas, specialist installation, inspections, maintenance, cleaning & safety advice. We also provide design, install, inspection & certification of anchor point service at the pre-build or post build stage.
Rope access provides lightweight equipment that can be assembled or removed quickly, thus providing greater flexibility, making rope access the preferred method of reaching difficult locations, allowing a variety tasks to be undertaken.
ROPE ACCESS MAIDS SERVICES AIR CONDITIONING WATER TANK CLEANING POOL CLEANING CLEANING (Pressure & General) GARDEN MAINTENANCE MEP FLOOR CARE SPECIALIST HEATH DONNELLY, Managing Director P.O.Box 111833, Dubai, U.A.E
DUBAI Tel: +971 04 4207256 / Fax: +971 04 3684587
ABU DHABI Tel: +971 02 6350014 / Fax: +971 02 3650064 EMAIL: enquiries@ultraabseil.com WEB: www.ultraabseil.com
• Using rope access provides an unobtrusive, cost effective access capability. • The number of man hours working at height can be vastly reduced when using rope access over traditional access methods. • Equipment used (i.e. ropes) can be installed and removed rapidly to ensure minimum disruption and therefore could help reduce overall lead times on projects, which in turn sees a reduction in project costs. • Other trades can continue their tasks without disruption at ground level, compared with other access methods, i.e. scaffolding. • Rope systems can be easily installed to reach almost all areas, which may not have been possible using conventional means. • Use of rope access could reduce further costs where there maybe need of road closures, i.e. busy shopping centres.
HOLDINGS PLATFORM LIFT COMPANY
designed, organised, and ďŹ tted ... without compromise choosing the right disabled access solution .. ramp or platform lift November 2006: United Arab Emirates Federal Government passed the UAE Disability Act (Federal Law No.29/2006) to protect the rights of people with disabilities and special needs. It is estimated that in the MENA region there are approximately thirty (30) million people with special needs. Providing accessibility to this significant percent of the population is not only a social and moral obligation it offers a huge retail business opportunity. Building designers, construction companies, building owners and managers must ensure that adequate disabled access is provided and properly maintained. Platform lifts are ideally suited for offices, shops restaurants, factories, hotels, schools and any other public access buildings. They can be customized to meet special requirements and provide a practical and low cost solution when disable access needs to be added to an existing building.
Stairlift: its various models are fully automatic with electronically controlled platforms & barrier arms. The platform & arms neatly fold away on a smooth operating rail when not in use, leaving the maximum width of the stairway for pedestrians, creating the ideal low-rise solution.
e-type platform lift: is formed of two stylish platform lifts capable of travelling a maximum of 1m. This low rise lift blends in and can be easily installed into any environment.
a-type platform lift: a favourite among architects and engineers, fits well into all types of environment & has a maximum travel of 12 metres and 5 stops. HEATH DONNELLY, Managing Director P.O.Box 111833, Dubai, U.A.E
DUBAI Tel: +971 04 4226457 / Fax: +971 04 3684587
ABU DHABI Tel: +971 02 6350031 / Fax: +971 02 3650064 EMAIL: andrew.cain@platformliftcompany.com WEB: www.platformliftcompany.com
d choo
fmME BREAKFAST CLUB
Next on the agenda… First order of business: Create an official government sanctioned facilities management association. Check. What’s next? fter a two-month hiatus, the Facilities Management Breakfast Club (FMBC) was back in action in October and, as per usual, Dubai’s Mövenpick Hotel in Deira played host to the industry’s movers and shakers for the morning. Fresh off the momentum of the official launch of the Middle East Facilities Management Association (MEFMA) at City-
A
16 November 2009
scape Dubai, an encouraged and reinvigorated FMBC found itself facing two very important questions at the October meeting: Now that MEFMA exists, do we still have a mandate? If it does have a mandate, what is it? As these crucial questions were put to the October visitors, the resounding answer—at least to the first question—was yes. “Whilst MEFMA and the eventual board of MEFMA will have its own agenda and objectives, needs to move on now FMBC n phase,” said FMBC with a new ph Stephen Barker, as he chairman, St meeting. opened the m continued: “The Barker con Club, since its formaBreakfast Clu been a gathering of tion, has bee industry-passionate people. It industry-pass was there to serve as a platform for discussion discussio and knowledge sharing. The fact that the formation of MEFMA MEFM was a particular subject that tthe Breakfast Club took to heart and drove through, been accomplished. that’s now be got to revisit what Now, we’ve g we want to do and w how we want to h position ourselves.” p As October’s FM experts sat around the contemplating a new table co direction ffor what has been a surprisingly effective lobbyist working group, it became and workin clear that the FMBC wanted to continu continue being a voice on of the industry. Its behalf o ability tto gain the proverbial ear of the government RERA) is the precise (e.g. RE reason for its success in such a short time and
continues to be the main justification for its existence. “The FMBC can continue to lobby what will now be a clear route to the local government,” explained Barker. “The FMBC now, in many ways, has an even more important role to play in the UAE because we can actually lobby an entity.”
A CLEAR DEFINITION As a collective, the group moved quite quickly past the first question. The second question, however, opened a discussion laced with complexities and intricacies understood by only the most seasoned of those around the table. It was decided that to best address the new mandate of FMBC, a menu or agenda of issues would be the necessary
first step in tackling the industry’s myriad issues. In legal circles, it well understood that to regulate something, one must first define that which it intends to regulate. Perhaps the best and simplest example comes from the world of soft drinks. Coca Cola has become a monolithic global brand that has garnered endless profits because of its ability to protect and patent its formula. Essentially, the ingredients—or definition—of Coca Cola cannot legally be sold or duplicated by anyone other than the parent corporation. The punishment for doing so is easily spelled out in intellectual property legislation. At October’s FMBC, the issue of definition was recognised to be equally paramount.
“Whilst MEFMA...will have its own agenda and objectives, now FMBC needs to move on with a new phase” Stephen Barker, chairman FMBC
To make MEFMA successful, FMBC, companies and professionals need to contribute to it.
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fmME BREAKFAST CLUB
“We should have a list of objectives or a mandate but I think the next step, before we engage in any specific subjects or topics, is to define ‘facilities management’ for Dubai and for the UAE and for the greater Middle East,” said Juma Bin Darwish Al Muhairy, vice president of engineering, DWTC. “If we can define it, an agenda can be easily driven from there.” “I believe the best way to address it is to itemize a list of issues that concern FMs in the Middle East and then break off into workshops to start the discussion of how to deal with them as FMBC and as an industry,” said Terry John-Baptiste, FM director at Omniyat Properties. Middle East and FM veteran Nigel Hambly, general manager of Modus Middle East, explains the importance of defining FM: “When I first came to the Middle East in 1980, we made a mistake, we didn’t define FM. But if you go through the process, which could be done in [FMBC] for approval by MEFMA, you then
FMBC AGENDA 1. Training 2. Definition of FM 3. Benchmarking 4. FM Membership/ Recognition 5. Events/Promotions 6. Health & Safety 7. Research & Development 8. Client Education 9. End User Benefits 10. Legislation – Input 11. Supply Chain – Pre Qualification 12. Sustainability – Environmental Issues 13. LEED – Middle East Standards 14. Standard Form Of Contract (SLAs & KPIs) 15. FM input at design stage
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“One of the most dangerous things in the industry is the rise of ‘cowboys’,” says Hambly
look at the various categories and levels within FM and come up with a composite definition which we can put to RERA. RERA can then approve that and work in conjunction with the licensing authorities.” he explained. As Hambly continued, he addressed one of the most dangerous trends in the industry— unqualified companies posing as facilities managers—and brought the discussion back to the paramount issue of client satisfaction: “Then companies will have an FM license that allows them to perform a specific set of tasks because they’re licensed to do them. It also allows for upgrading that license based on the company’s ability to prove their qualifications in performing a certain service. That would stop the cowboys in the industry and allow clients to make their own informed choices.” John-Baptiste quickly agreed with what he sees as one of the major issues facing the Middle East’s FM industry: “There are so many different companies that claim to be FM companies and when you look at what they’re doing, it’s shocking. Essentially, those companies are putting people’s assets—and people’s lives—in jeopardy. I’ve seen some work in this region
that scared the life out of me.” The point is this: By defining the phrase ‘facilities management’, the government can begin the long and intricate process of legislating the industry in the form of certifying, licensing and—where laws are breached—punishing companies in the industry.
MANDATE MOVING FORWARD As the FMBC discussion moved forward, establishing a mandate assumed the position of Priority Number One. “Would it make sense for MEFMA to adorn the FMBC with an official sanction to become a discussion forum for industry issues?” asked Hambly. “Perhaps FMBC becomes the filtration system before issues actually get to MEFMA.
FMBC could could present its findings to MEFMA for discussion by their executive.” “If that’s a possibility, then I think that’s exactly what needs to happen,” agreed Louisa Theobald, group exhibitions director, SMG FM Expo. “In order to sustain its credibility, MEFMA will need to establish such workshops and working groups to feed information and focus on issues such as benchmarking, training, industry concerns, sustainability and much more,” said Al Muhairy. “I think this is a vital part of MEFMA but we can’t just expect the MEFMA board or working team to do everything. It’s an organization for industry professionals and everyone needs to take part in its development.” Ali Hassan Al Suwaidi of Emaar Properties agreed: “MEFMA is an association. It needs support. RERA can support it with an office and administrative details but to grow and develop, we need the FMBC members, FM companies and industry professionals to participate and make it successful.” As discussion evolved, for the first time since its inception, the group talked about a new mandate and how to address the issues permeating the industry. Check out the factbox to find FMBC’s new agenda.
Perhaps it would make the most sense for MEFMA to adorn FMBC with an official sanction.
November 2009 17
Modus is a responsive and innovative FM company, offering our unique Service FusionŠ & EcoFiciencyŠ brands and providing a wide range of business support services comprising of FM Consultancy, FM operations, electrical, mechanical, soft services, fabric maintenance, design and ďŹ t out to clients across Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Financial, Education, Oil & Gas, IT & Telecoms, Data Centers & Healthcare sectors. Modus provides: t "TTVSFE '. 4FSWJDF EFMJWFSZ BOE QSPGFTTJPOBM NBOBHFNFOU DPNQFUFODF supported by expert systems and processes each with full ISO certiďŹ cation 9001, 14001, 18001 t $PNQSFIFOTJWF '. $POTVMUBODZ %FTJHO UISPVHI UP 0QFSBUJPOT t &YQFSU TVQQMZ DIBJO QSPDVSFNFOU NBOBHFNFOU t %FUBJMFE VOEFSTUBOEJOH PG UIF DSJUJDBM OBUVSF PG #VJMEJOH PQFSBUJPOT t "TTFU -JGF $ZDMF .BOBHFNFOU t 8BSSBOUZ 1SPKFDU &OWJSPONFOUBM .BOBHFNFOU Contact: Tel: Fax: Email:
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18 November 2009
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ROPE ACCESS Because we don’t live in a design utopia. Sometimes cleaning solutions have to be devised after the fact.
HEAD FOR HEIGHTS The Gulf’s skylines are filled with hard to reach places that require clever solutions to keep them clean and in good order epending on who you talk to, it is either the genius of architects or the ingenuity of engineers that has gifted the Gulf’s skylines with an array of towering icons. These structures have reached new heights, redefined typologies, taken forms that appear to defy gravity and, in the mean time, created some of the most difficult to reach dust traps on the planet. While they usually inspire awe at their openings, someone still has to clean and maintain them.
D
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Making this happen is the job of the FM manager and safe access is at the heart of the issue. The earlier the issue of access is considered, the better the opportunities to make it easy are. But we don’t live in a design utopia, so sometimes solutions have to be devised well after the problem has been created. Regardless of when it’s thought about, or indeed, whether the problem is one of height, tricky spaces, or just urgency, understanding your access options may make life easier.
Machine… “Cleaning at great heights is predominantly carried out in the classical way with cradles and climbers, though our focus is increasingly on hightech cleaning solutions,” said Thomas Moslener, CEO of ABS Group, an FM company. “Our main issue is safety for clients and workers.... Both are provided by our...façade cleaning robot, which is not dependent on any humans to operate or maintain, and it delivers a consistent cleaning standard.”
November 2009 19
ROPE ACCESS
Rope access is used when nothing else works.
IRATA The Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA) was formed in the late 1980’s, to help provide a safe working environment for an industry where safety is paramount. IRATA works to improve safety in the industry; produce an industry standard set of guidelines and training requirements; and provide a comprehensive assessment and registration process for operatives. IRATA’s main activities include maintaining high standards of safety and work quality, offering guidance on training and certification, as well as good working practice. IRATA REGIONAL MEMBERS Full members Kooh Veisi Trading Company www.irata.ir MEGARME www.megarme.com Oceaneering International www.oceaneering.com Probationary members Emirates Industrial Laboratory www.eillab.com International Marine Works www.inw.com.eg Ultra Abseil Cleaning Services LLC www.ultraabseil.com Source: www.irata.org
20 November 2009
Human error is inherent in high rise rope access but Megarme tries to limit it by applying very strigent standards used in offshore facilities.
ABS expects growth primarily in the area of maintenance, as the lifecycle costs arguments for predictive and preventative maintenance grow stronger. “This of course means more and more industrial climbers inside and outside the construction,” said Moslener. “We do not rely on standard concepts, but design specific solutions for our customers and their problems.” This kind of bespoke solution is in part a result of the variety of design we see in the Gulf. It’s a variety that has also led to a growth in another kind of bespoke solution – rope access.
…versus man In the recent past rope access has been used as the last choice, when other options, for
Most jobs require rope skills as well as plumbing, electrical and welding abilities.
whatever reasons, were simply impossible. But a well-trained team of rope access technicians can turn up on site with a bag full of gear, deploy it, and be ready to do the job in about the same time a scaffolding outfit could unload their trucks.
“As an access specialist we undertake anything where conventional access systems are impractical, too cumbersome, or not cost-effective.” Billy Harkin
That’s if scaffolding is even an option given the site conditions. “Rope access has tended to be a last resort,” said Billy Harkin managing director of Megarme, a rope access company. “But I’m pleased to say it’s becoming a first choice and architects are designing systems into buildings. “We get involved, not just with execution, but in the design of the buildings to make sure they have anchor points and rails, which is crucial.” While cleaning is an obvious application of rope access skills and provides the bread and but-
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ROPE ACCESS
ter contracts, it has other maintenance and installation uses. Take the prominent project of the Yas Hotel. There, Megarme has had a team of about 90 involved since January, installing the panels that displayed the post-race light show. Jobs such as this require more than just rope skills, technical ability and knowledge with plumbing, electrical installation and welding all part of the mix, it’s just that much of the work is done at the end of a rope. “It [the hotel] is such a tough structure because it has so many dimensions, with the electrical component, plus the panels with the lights projecting back,” said Harking. “We’ve been operating 17 years here now and that’s probably been one of the most challenging
jobs we’ve had, because of all the components related to the project and the sophisticated lighting system.” Between Yas Hotel and the Metro, Megarme has been involved in some high-profile jobs of late. The Metro saw the company make the front pages of several papers in the run up to the opening and every eye in Dubai probably spent a minute or two watching the team dust down stations, to make them shiny, as well as new. However,
2.5
TONNES THE WEIGHT EACH ROPE USED BY MEGARME CAN HOLD
“We do not rely on standard concepts, but design specific solutions for our customers and their problems.” Thomas Moslener
staying out of the public eye is a more common situation. Being less noticeable than some high access alternatives is one of the advantages of using a rope team. As mentioned, cleaning provides the most regular work, and much of this comes from the hospitality industry. Tall hotel atriums are a good example of spaces that can’t have scaffolding, or cordoned off areas, but still need to be
The Yas Island Hotel has had about 90 staff onsite since January 2009.
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cleaned and maintained. “As an access specialist we undertake anything where conventional access systems are either impractical, too cumbersome, or not cost-effective,” said Harkin. “It’s quite a niche market where a building maintenance unit won’t work and where a crane is not practical. Rope access is the only system where you can get in and out quite quickly, which is why we are used in hotel atriums. “While on a building site, you would have a certain amount of freedom to protect directly below the drop zone. In a hotel you are not allowed to do that.” With a company background that started out doing access jobs for the off shore oil industry, the training is intensive. In civil engineering applications Harkin describes the level of skill as using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. “There is always room for human error, but we try to limit it by even applying the offshore standards, regulations and safety to onshore projects.” “We’ve always done bottom up training on the rope access side, as we tend to bring people in with skills, such as trades inspectors, welders, electricians or plumbers. We always do an
Megarme’s team worked feverishly in the lead up to the grand opening of the Dubai Metro.
November 2009 21
ROPE ACCESS
The industry has a remarkable safety record given its inherent dangers.
awful lot of technical training, through a third party trainer.” Calling a rope access team is often an event-based experience for FMs, such as when there was an urgent need to repair the fire-damaged Atlantis Hotel, just prior to its official opening. “The designers had felt no need for any kind of access system, so when the fire happened it was panic and we were called in that day,” said Harkin. “We needed to access the structure, so in the end we had to come up with some quite ingenious solutions.” “Working on the Atlantis hotel has been our biggest accomplishment,” said Daniel Gill, business development manager for Megarme. “The need to get it finished and its high profile meant it was one of those jobs where they didn’t ask how long it would take, they told us.”
Safety Both Moslener and Harkin place a great deal of emphasis on safety. Intense levels of training, combined with systems of certification and continuous assessment help to keep the specialists safe. In fact the industry has a remarkable safety record,
22 November 2009
Calling a rope access team is often an event-based experience.
Visa rules in the Gulf often make it easier to keep track of the current skills and qualifications of rope access technicians.
given the dangers inherent in high work and the fact that falls from height are the number one cause of lost time injuries on construction sites in the UAE (source: Build Safe UAE). Primary causes are inadequate training, poor equipment, or incorrect use of the right kit. Items such as harnesses have to be selected for the job and worn correctly. A harness must be designed to hold a person both during and after a fall in such a way that their head remains in an upright position,
according to All Safe, a lifting and fall arrest solution provider. “Prior to use, safety harnesses, their lanyards, shock absorbers and hooks should be inspected by a competent person,” says All Safe corporate sales manager Hugo Laverdin. Harkin says that Megarme uses a mixture of experienced people on each job, to make sure there is enough supervision and the right skill set for each job and its requirements. Thanks to local visa rules this is often easier to achieve in
the Gulf region than in Europe. Here, staff are permanent and tend to be trained by the companies they work for, where as European-based rope access technicians are often freelancers, who move from job to job, making it more difficult to keep a track of their current skills and qualifications. Regular assessment, well established teams and adherence to appropriate international standards, will all help to ensure a solid safety record continues.
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24 November 2009
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BIG 5 SHOW REPORT BIG 5
It’s showtime! From cleaning products to wastewater treatment, access control and fire protection, there is a slew of products and suppliers relevant to the FM industry at The Big 5 exhibition this year from 23-26 November at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Here are some of the highlights.
NEWELL RUBBERMAID
ARABIAN SPECIALISED MATERIALS CO. LLC
Category: Hardware, Commercial Products Where: Zabeel R131 Claim to fame: Newell Rubbermaid is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products that touch the lives of people where they live, work and play. It is committed to building consumer and commercial ‘brands that matter’ while leveraging the benefits of being one company .
Category: Infrastructure Where: Stand 2 G84 Claim to fame: For 10 years, this AL Jaber Group subsidiary has been serving the Qatari market with infrastructure, supplies, pipes and fittings (DI, GRP, concrete, HDPE). The road & plant security division provides crash barriers, traffic signs & fencing. The waste management division supplies specialised fabricated systems made from aluminium, galvanised and stainless steel.
What to watch out for: The company will be exhibiting Rubbermaid commercial products for materials handling, cleaning and maintenance, Dymo and Rhino label printing, Irwin and Lenox hand tools and construction tools and power tools accessories. Website: www.newellrubbermaid.com
What to watch out for: ASMA’s garbage and linen chute system was one of the first products it manufactured for the Qatar market for normal and high-rise buildings. Website: www.qatcom.com
CORTECH LTD.
CYCLO VAC CENTRAL VACUUMS
Category: Access Control Where: Stand 11 E132 Claim to fame: This Korean company has been manufacturing automatic and semi-automatic sliding door systems for over 20 years. Main features include a self-diagnosis function at initial setting, automatic adjustment of the opening/closing width, high-efficiency, low-noise motor (DC 24V), including reducer (worm gear type) and encoder, and built-in electric locking system. Switched-mode power supply allows a steady voltage to be maintained.
Category: Cleaning Systems Where: Canada Stand Claim to fame: Cyclo Vac central vacuums have been made in Canada for 45 years. About 80% of the unit is recyclable, which led the company to submit its product for a 2009 GAIA Award.
What to watch out for: Automatic sliding-door operators that do not need electricity, no door rail on the floor, smooth and silent operation, adjustable speed, safe closing by air-brake system, easy installation and changing of the opening direction. Website: www.cortechsolutions.com
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What to watch out for: The company’s Data Sync technology is billed as a first in the central vacuum industry. It comprises a sophisticated microchip technology PC board in the central vacuum unit and in the hose handle. The status information from the unit is sent to the handle using exclusive technology developed by Cyclo Vac. This advises when it is time to change the bag or empty the canister; when to change the patented carbon filter, and when to schedule maintenance on the unit. Website: www.cyclovac.com
November 2009 25
BIG 5 SHOW REPORT
HAURATON
TECHNOFORM MIDDLE EAST
Category: Drainage Where: Zabeel F111 Claim to fame: Since the development of the first drainage channels in 1958, Hauraton products have set benchmarks. Milestones that have influenced drainage techniques include the first channel with steel angle housing (1970), the introduction of material fibre reinforced concrete (1974), the development of DACHFIX (1982) and RECYFIX channels (1995), as well as the invention of the first boltless-locking system SIDE-LOCK (1998).
Category: Insulation, Glazing Where: Zabeel P113 Claim to fame: Technoform Middle East represents two companies of the global Technoform Group, which specialises in high-precision plasic extrusion: Technoform Bautec, with insulating profiles for thermal break windows, doors and façades, and Technoform Glass Insulation, with warm edge spacers for insulation glass. Technoform insulating profiles for aluminum windows, doors and facades are utilised by Schüco, Hydro Group, Sapa Group, Alcoa Group, Alumil, Gartner and Heroal.
What to watch out for: RECYFIX HICAP type G channel is the first system with a PE-PP channel body with a slotted cover made from ductile iron that provides long-term reliability under heavy loading. The company has supplied 20 km of drainage channel products for Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Website: www.hauraton.com
What to watch out for: Technoform is a global leader in the design, production and distribution of high-performance and thermal insulating polyamide insulation strips for thermal break aluminium frames and warm-edge insulating glass spacers. Web site: www.technoform.com
STERLING CROWN
ACCUMETRIC
Category: Interior Products, Ceilings Where: Stand 4 B180 Claim to fame: Sterling Crown is a brand name synonymous with quality ceiling products. It is recognised as Malaysia’s leading manufacturer of gypsum ceiling panels, and has expanded its export markets in Europe, Middle East, Africa, South East Asia and Australia.
Category: Sealants Where: Stand 3 F141 Claim to fame: Accumetric is a manufacturer of silicone and acrylic sealants for use in the building and construction sectors. It also has a full range of fire-rated sealants for use in passive fire protection. The ISO certified company manufactures or purchases product in bulk from major domestic and foreign suppliers. It then packages these various products into cartridges, tubes, sausages, bottles, cans and other smaller containers.
What to watch out for: New products to be unveiled include gypsum ceiling tiles, T-grid suspension systems, gypsum boards (drywall) and joint compound. Website: www.sterlingcrown.com
What to watch out for: Accumetric manufactures, packages and markets adhesives, sealants, lubricants and related products. The packaged products are private-labeled or are sold nationally and internationally under the BOSS label. Website: www.accumetricinc.com
KESSEL
POLYPIPE TERRAIN
Category: Waste Treatment Where: Zabeel H115 Claim to fame: Kessel offers a complete range of drainage products for residences, restaurants, hotels, cafeterias, parking garages, seweage systems, sporting facilities and waste stations and dumps.
Category: Pipe Systems Where: Hall 2 Stand F61 Claim to fame: Based in the UK, Polypipe Terrain is the market leading range of soil and waste systems for commercial applications, available with an extensive range of pipes and fittings in PVC, HDPE and polypropylene to suit almost every application. Terrain’s history as a supplier of plastic drainage pipes and fittings to the Middle East stretches back over the last 50 years, so the company already has very strong links within the region and established relationships with the construction industry.
What to watch out for: The newest generation of the Kessel Inno-Clean wastewater treatment system was introduced at the 2009 BAU Exhibition in Munich, Germany. Standard-sized systems are now offered in a single-tank configuration, access covers have been reduced to a single cover and the treatment system itself is now located directly below the access cover. The high treatment efficiency has remained the same, employing the biological treatment process which cleans domestic wastewater without the use of any chemicals. Website: www2.kessel.de
26 November 2009
What to watch out for: “In addition to the range of products and services we can provide, we want visitors to our stand to be aware of the tremendous history that Terrain has in the Gulf,” says commercial director Appleby. “We can supply everything from individual products to complete solutions, so we really do represent a true one-stop source for our customers.” Website: www.terraindrainage.com
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BIG 5 SHOW REPORT
BMC GULF TRADING & CONTRACTING LLC Category: Waterproofing, Membranes Where: Stand 4 D171 Claim to fame: BMC was established in 1998, providing the GCC and the Middle East with specialised engineering solutions in the field of geosynthetics and plastic products for environmental protection, industrial applications and commercial projects. It offers turnkey solutions, including design, material supply, site supervision, installation and welding services and training and certification, as well as testing and quality control through its experienced team of engineers and technicians. What to watch out for: Geomembrane liners, concrete protective liners, rubber gaskets and hydrophilic seals, geosynthetic clay liners, geotextiles and geogrids. Website: www.bmc-gulf.com
THERMILATE MIDDLE EAST FZ LLC Category: Insulation Where: Stand 2 F77 Claim to fame: Thermilate Europe Ltd. is the supplier of the world-leading insulating paint additive Thermilate, which makes paint insulate, thereby saving heating and cooling time, and hence cutting costs. Thermilate Europes hold the exclusive licence for Thermilate for the UK and across Europe, Scandinavia and the Middle East. Incidentally, the product is an offshoot of NASA space technology. What to watch out for: A new range of wood wool insulation boards. This series of thermal and acoustic panels is used for concrete casting insulation, flooring and roofing insulation, internal and external facings, sound absorbtion, false ceilings and acoustic insulation between floors and adjacent rooms. Website: www.thermilate.com
SWEGON Category: HVAC Where: Stand 1 F26 Claim to fame: Swegon manufactures and sells products and solutions for ventilation and indoor climate systems. It is based in Sweden, with an important global export presence, including the UAE. What to watch out for: Swegon will be releasing the new Paragon silent cooling unit. It operates without a fan, meaning no draught, less maintenance and added energy savings. Paragon is a dry system, meaning no condensation and drainage system. A range of room control systems is available. Website: www.swegon.com
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ITDR RUBINETTERIE SpA Category: Taps, Fittings Where: Stand 9 B66 Claim to fame: ITDR manufactures a full range of regular and environmentally friendly plumbing fixtures, including kitchen and basin faucets, tub and shower fixtures, thermostatic controls, accessories and components. Products are exported as far afield as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen. What to watch out for: The ideal manufacturer if you are looking for contemporary Italian design combined with high standards in material and quality, at accessible prices. Website: www.itdr.eu/eng
SCHINDLER UAE Category: Elevators, Escalators Where: Stand 7 B301 Claim to fame: It has branches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Swiss-incorporated Schindler Group is a leading global mobility provider, present in more than 140 countries. It designs, manufactures, installs, services and modernises elevator and escalator systems for almost every building type. Schindler supports sustainable urban development with safe, reliable and ecologicallysound mobility solutions. Its expertise and its pioneering role in the development of traffic management technologies make it an ideal partner in a region with such intensive construction activity, especially in high-rise buildings. What to watch out for: Schindler Miconic 10 is the industry’s original destination control system, proven in buildings all over the world with more than 2000 elevators in service. Website: www.schindler.com
LEMINAR AIRCONDITIONING LLC Category: HVAC Where: Stand 1 B21 Claim to fame: Leminar Air Conditioning was formed in 1992 to cater to the HVAC equipment and accessories needs of HVAC contractors in the Dubai. Today it has multiple branches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as retail outlets in Sharjah and Fujairah. Leminar’s ISO 9001 certification and it membership of HARDI ensures that it views quality as its prime focus. What to watch out for: IQAir room air purifiers offer plugand-play air purification of the highest standard. These units are placed in the rooms where you spend most of your time, typically a living room or bedroom. One unit is powerful enough to effectively purify the air in an entire room or connected indoor spaces of up to 75 square metres. Website: www.leminar.net
November 2009 27
COMMENT EXPERT COMMENT
The invisible man… If residential building designers consider the place and developers consider some of the processes, why do the people get ignored? Alan Millin, MSc. CEng FIHEEM, says it could all be different if FMs were consulted at the start of the design process
n an earlier article we looked at definitions of facilities management. While there are several definitions around, there seems to be a consensus that FM relates to the integration of people, processes and places. Designers of buildings may consider the place and the developers might consider some of the processes. But why do the people get ignored? Consider an apartment building in Dubai, handed over by a major developer in 2009. The building has six floors and on each floor there are multiple spacious janitor rooms. Also on each floor is an electrical
I
28 November 2009
“There is another option. The occupant can enter the kitchen, walk to the far corner, lean over the kitchen worktops, reach around a column and tap blindly around until he hits a light switch.” room for the DEWA electricity meters and a separate room for the water meters. No problem so far, the meters can be read without inconveniencing the individual residents; the designers have done a good job, or so it seems. Inside the apartments it’s a different story though. The
kitchen cupboards look fine. The tenant opens them up oneby-one thinking that they have lots of storage space, but they are soon disappointed. In one of the double-door cupboards they find a gas meter. The meter is so big that all the shelves have had to be removed from the cupboard so
that the gas meter can be strategically positioned to ensure that there is no useful storage space left in the cupboard. The gas pipe-work seems to be something of an afterthought too. Bright yellow piping is routed from the meter, through a hole made in the cupboard and terminated where the gas cooker will be located. The pipe-work installation does not exactly ooze quality. No problem though, the installation team has stuck some illmatching sections of trunking around the pipe to complete what even the most benevolent of us might call an eyesore. Did the designers forget
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EXPERT COMMENT
that a gas network was being installed throughout the whole development? Did they forget that gas meters would have to be installed somewhere? Did they forget that owners and tenants like to be able to put things in their cupboards? The janitor is, of course, laughing at everyone now. He has more space on each floor than he needs; no cupboards and no gas meters to clutter his room. Indeed, there is nothing at all in the janitor rooms. On to the apartment lighting. Enter one apartment and the kitchen is immediately to the left of the front door. It’s an open plan design with kitchen cupboards and worktops defining the limits of the living room. Entry to the kitchen is near the front door. To turn the kitchen lights on though, the occupant has to pass from the front door, past the kitchen entrance, enter the living room area, turn left and cross the full width of the living room to use light switches which are actually in the living room. There is another option. The occupant can enter the kitchen, walk to the far corner, lean over the kitchen worktops, reach around a column and tap blindly around until he hits a light switch. Depending on how tall the occupant
“Facilities managers see things from a functional perspective as well as a technical one. If the designers and developers of the apartments I describe here had consulted with professional FMs the outcome could have been so much different.” is he might have to sit on the worktops to complete this mission. To make life really interesting the electrical switch for the gas valve is next to the kitchen light switches in the living room. Is it possible that the designers have never operated a light switch on entering a room? Could it be that our designer’s own kitchen is something he walks past on the way in and out of his study, while someone else operates the technical side of things such as cooking, operating lights or reading the gas meter behind the scenes? Speaking of lights, in these eco-conscious times perhaps an alternative to the old incandescent lamps may have been considered here too. So what’s wrong? Clearly facilities management was not considered in this development. If it had been, the FM team would have made many
Alan Millin thinks it could all be different if...
comments on the design, supported by several recommendations. Of course, the project design team will have reviewed the design but theirs was apparently just a technical review. Facilities management is so much more than this. Facilities managers see things from a
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functional perspective as well as a technical one. If the designers and developers of the apartments I describe here had consulted with professional FMs the outcome could have been so much different. Residents would be able to turn their kitchen lights on and off from a sensible point. Windows could also be cleaned without literally risking life and limb. Moreover, light bulbs could be changed without having to buy or borrow extra large stepladders or paying someone else to do the job. In a perfect world, gas meter locations could be included in the design, allowing sensible use of cupboard space. Pipework would be installed discreetly to minimise the shock/ horror effect on the owners. By including FM in the design process the developer could have gained satisfied owners/tenants and a reputation for quality. By excluding FM the developer has instead earned a lot of dissatisfied customers and a reputation for poor design and low quality finishing. Not the sort of reputation they expected when the designs were first approved I’m sure. Things would have been so different if they had not forgotten about the people…
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November 2009 29
BIG ISSUE
Swiss expert criticizes Dubai’s fire-door checks A senior executive from Belimo Automation in Switzerland has suggested that Dubai’s civil defence regulations requiring the inspection of fire doors on a monthly basis include a check of the fire and smoke damper actuators in order to be more effective and thereby boost health and safety. aving a test once a month to check the fire doors is totally meaningless unless you check the fire and smoke damper actuators as well,” said Colin Shepherd. He was speaking at the official launch of Belimo Automation FZE’s new training facility at its Dubai Airport Free Zone offices. Regular testing of such actuators is critical in order to ensure they function correctly at all times, said Shepherd. Some countries in Europe, for example, required such critical-component testing every couple of days. In this regard, Belimo Automation has a highly cost-effective ringbus system that automates the control and monitoring of fire and smoke damper actuators. “We have a standard for fire doors, but do not check the void above where the actuators are, which would be relatively easy to stipulate in the regulations. The actuators should at least be part of this monthly check, for any fire-control system is only as good as the last time the actuators themselves were tested,” said Shepherd. He added that the failure to capitalise on the potential of the monthly fire-door check was due to a prevailing mindset of “saving on the initial cost of the project. What I think is a big problem in the Middle East is
“H
30 November 2009
Major Ibrahim Abdulrahman Bin Saif (Dubai Civil Defence), Belimo Automation FZE GM David Stevenson and operations manager Bashar Mansour.
“Having a test once a month to check the fire doors is totally meaningless unless you check the fire and smoke damper actuators as well.”
16/500
Colin Shepherd
that often only the primary cost is taken into account and neverthe total project cost.”
SPECIFICATION “When the contractors get hold of a project, often any overall specification in terms of sav-
ing on project costs just goes straight out of the window. Often all they are worried about is how cheaply a project can be delivered. That is a major problem at the moment,” warned Shepherd. He added that the global trend towards heightened health and
THE NUMBER OF RINGS ON A SINGLE SERVER/MODULES ON EACH RING IN THE BELIMO RINGBUS SOLUTION
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BIG ISSUE
A view of some of the fire and smoke damper actuators in the training facility.
“Having a test once a month to check the fire doors is totally meaningless unless you check the fire and smoke damper actuators as well” Colin Shepherd
safety awareness, in conjunction with pending ‘green’ building design, was helping to boost business for Belimo Automation, especially in the Middle East market. It has supplied fire and smoke damper actuators for the Dubai Metro, Burj Dubai and control valves for the Al Barari luxury villa development, among other major projects. Based in Switzerland, Belimo Automation took the decision to open a Middle East subsidiary in 2006, which officially opened its doors in April 2007. “This seems like a long time ago, but we have progressed terrifically in a relatively short period, having supplied product to some very prestigious projects, including the supply of thousands of fire and smoke damper actuators for the Dubai Metro,” said Belimo Automation FZE GM David Ste-
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venson. “We have many customers in n different countries, and constantly realise that there e is a real need and desire re for education and training ing in the market. So with ith this in mind we decided ded to commit to the investment nvestment in our new training facility and knowledge centre, re,
which caters for contractors, consultants, graduates or even senior partners.
ENERGY-SAVINGS “Our focus will be on two key areas, namely energy-savings, which is in line with the Dubai Government’s pending ‘green’ regulations, and fire and safety, which is in line with the civil defence regulations throughout the Middle East. Over the coming months we plan to embark on numerous training sessions based on real-life scenarios,” commented Stevenson.
Present at the official opening of the new training facility was Major Ibrahim Abdulrahman Bin Saif from Dubai Civil Defence, Nigel MacKenzie from Pacific Control Systems, a notable end user of Belimo Automation products, and Shepherd himself. “A main reason for such a major investment is to emphasise that Belimo Automation is not just a component manufacturer. Its ambit reaches far beyond just supplying products. We are a total solutions provider, and therefore need to be training our customers prior- and postproject,” said Shepherd. “So in the initial stages we need to sit down with the consultant and thrash out various scenarios for a particular project. The respective OEMs can then visit our training facility, where we can, for example, install their VAV box. This can be connected to different controls, allowing us to simulate varying system pressures. We are also able to demonstrate the cost/benefit ratios for different ‘smart’ systems, on the basis of both ‘green’ issues and health and safety,” explained Shepherd. “It is critical the industry as a whole look at the total project cost rather than only the primary cost. One of the biggest problems in the Middle East market is that contractors and consultants tend to focus on the initial cost at the expense of the overall cost and its associated long-term benefits and payback implications,” argued Shepherd.
TRAINING FACILITY
Colin Shepherd
Looking at the training facility in more detail, Shepherd says it is divided into two distinct sections, namely energy-saving and fire and safety. “We are demonstrating some of Belimo Automation’s innovative control products, such as pressureindependent valves offering significant savings in energy
November 2009 31
BIG ISSUE
Major Ibrahim Abdulrahman Bin Saif was given a full rundown of the new training facility.
consumption, comfort level and ease of installation. “VAV, or Variable Air Volume, is a highly energy-efficient means of distributing air in an HVAC system. VAV is relatively new in the Middle East. It is a bit of a ‘black art’ for some contractors as they do not fully understand the concept behind it. Here we are able to demonstrate this technology by using real-life scenarios,” said Stevenson. The training facility also serves as a working display of Belimo Automation’s ringbus system for fire and smoke damper actuator control. Operations manager Bashar Mansour says that, “in case of fire, it is important that everything functions as it was designed for. With this system you can monitor thousands of damper actuators from a centralised point via touch-screen control.”
32 November 2009
It is critical to test smoke and fire damper actuators on a regular basis, especially as they tend to be left in one place for a long time. “They need to be tested regularly to ensure they are operating correctly. Our system not only provides convenient testing in this regard, but also reduces 80% of the associated cabling cost, which can amount to millions of dirhams on a large project,” said Stevenson. “Conventional control and monitoring of a fire and smoke damper actuator requires eight wires for a single actuator for
The training facility has its own ventilation and extraction system.
correct interfacing with a BMS. The Belimo ringbus solution can supply power and control and monitoring over four wires, wired in a daisy chain method. Our ringbus system allows for 16 rings on a single server, and 500 modules on each ring. This makes for a very flexible and cost effective control and a monitoring solution. The system is also very safe, and has
“It is critical to test smoke and fire damper actuators on a regular basis, especially as they tend to be left in one place for a long time.” David Stevenson
short-circuit and induction-proof protection. If there is a single fault, it will still function properly and communication will not be lost, as it is a dedicated system that is independent of the BMS,” explained Mansour. The flexibility of the system also means that all possible fire protection designs for a single building can be catered for. Once a particular system has been installed, it can also be retrofitted as and when required. “It is a totally dynamic system that even allows changes to be made to a building already in operation,” noted Stevenson. This inherent flexibility means that the system soon pays for itself many times over.
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Alumil Gulf fzc subsidiary of ALUMIL in the Middle East
Technology Park, RAK FTZ, RAK tel +971 7 2444106, fax +971 7 2444107 email support.uae@alumil.com, sales.uae@alumil.com
CITYSCAPE POST SHOW
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum opens Cityscape 2009
The evolution of Dubai Cityscape 2009 may have been a much more muted affair, but the attendant World Architecture Congress featured a lively debate about the growing importance of infrastructure and the long-term maintainability of buildings. he economic downturn is spurring the continued evolution of the construction industry. “The market is no longer speculative, but is about supply and demand and creating the right product. It is not just about design anymore, but more about constructability and functionality. The execution is so bad; in 10 to 15 years many buildings will have structural problems,” warned Hines MD Dr Jurgen Herre at the World Architecture Congress at Cityscape 2009. The current situation of oversupply in the residential and office space markets had resulted
T
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in “competition between good and not-so-good buildings.” This posed a particular challenge to architects in particular: “how to make Dubai feel like an urban space where people feel inclined to stay longer than three years …” Hence property management is going to become ever more critical. “What will be an A1 location in Dubai in 10 years’ time? Or even in 12 to 24 months around the Burj Dubai after the Dubai Metro is fully operational? It will be a totally different ball game. Developers will be obliged to keep the end user in mind. Who will be the people inhabiting
“There is a huge responsibility for architects and engineers to make a u-turn to make buildings more sustainable.” Mario Seneviratne, MD Green Technologies
these buildings? Most projects are targeting the high end. We have to provide solutions for the middle class, as their needs are not being addressed.” Dr Herre warned that sustainability and ‘green’ technology only stood a chance of succeeding “if it increased profits
or added value.” The focus is shifting from rental per square metre to a total cost approach. “If a building has better indoor air quality, then sick days go down, posing a significant benefit.” Many modern buildings are aesthetically pleasing, but what about their main-
November 2009 35
CITYSCAPE
Part of the exhibition space at Cityscape 2009
“The problem with Dubai is that it is not finished enough. It is like visiting a giant building site. The economic interruption has stopped the finishingoff process. It is good for a city as a whole to finish what it has started.” Peter Rees, London city planning officer
tainability in years to come, questioned Dr Herre. Such an approach was initially more expensive, he admitted, but if it is integrated during the design stage, then it only represented an incremental cost increase.
Additional value “It creates additional value for you as the ultimate owner, as you can ask higher rents for a more efficient building. Investors will accept a reduced capitalisation rate as the maintenance will be lower.” Green Technologies MD Mario Seneviratne said the ‘hot topic’ at the moment was reducing the region’s carbon footprint, one of the highest in
the world, and making sustainable communities. “We receive nine out of ten enquiries as to LEED accreditation after tender stage. There is no chance of achieving LEED Platinum after the schematic design stage, as you have already missed the opportunity of many commonsense things. Sustainability should be the mainstream focus of any project, and not just an add-on along the way.” Seneviratne added that all professionals involved had to assume responsibility for achieving sustainability. “It is impossible to carry out a sustainable project without the entire team on board at the beginning, especially in terms
of goal-setting and continuous monitoring. Energy modelling is an integral part of this process.” London’s city planning officer Peter Rees concurred succinctly when he remarked: “Any fool can design a good building, but it takes a genius to design a good space.”
Remaking He said that the industry needed to focus on “remaking spaces that have ceased to be places. Dubai is still relatively new, comprising individual buildings with nothing much
in-between. We have got to figure out what to do with these spaces. It is not just bankers who have gotten us into this mess; we ourselves have been producing ‘wacky buildings’.” Rees said the industry was in a position where it was now possible to build anything. However, after the downturn, “people are now starting to look at the real worth of buildings.” This means that ancillary disciplines such as MEP and FM will play an increasingly more important role in the brave new world being built.
For a bit, Cityscape Dubai seemed like a throwback to the boom years
36 November 2009
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Leader in FM Services for over 30 years
Facilities Management & Maintenance Division of the BEC ensures multi-discipline functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, process and technology. The disciplines include: Hard Services • Air-conditioning • Fire Alarm, Fire Fighting System and UPS System • Electrical - HT and LT Installations • Diesel Power / Gas Power Plants • Elevators & Escalators • Estate Maintenance - Civil, Electrical, Mechanical • Boilers & Laundry / Kitchen Equipment • Water and Waste water Plants & Swimming Pools Soft Services • Landscaping • Cleaning and Housekeeping • Security
Facilities Management & Maintanance Division Oman: +968 24592028. e-mail - ahuja.fmm@becoman.com Dubai: +9714 3475878. e-mail - stephen@becdubai.com www.bahwanengineering.com
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November 2009 37
PROJECT TRACKER
PROJECT FOCUS KUWAIT PROJECTS DATABASE - BUILDING PROJECTS FOCUS PROJECT TITLE
CLIENT
CONSULTANT
MAIN CONTRACTOR
VALUE / VALUE RANGE (US$. MN)
TYPE OF PROJECT
PROJECT STATUS
Center for Research & Studies at Sharq
Ministry of Public Works
Gulf Consult
Al Jaraih Contracting
12
project under construction
Commercial Buildings
College of Technological Studies at Shuwaikh
Public Authority for Applied Education & Training
Al Dowailah Engineering Consultants
Not Appointed
16 - 30
award awaited for the main contract
Educational Facilities
Vocational Training Institute in Jahra
The Public Authority for Applied Education & Training
In House
Not Appointed
31 - 100
award awaited for the main contract
Educational Facilities
Injassat Tower
Injassat Real Estate
Projacs/KEO International
Ahmadiah Trading & Contracting
20
project under construction
Commercial Buildings
Al Aqeelah Tower
Al Aqeelah Finance Leasing & Investment Co;
Al Mousawi Engineering Consultant
Kharafi National
16 - 30
project under construction
Residential Buildings
Administration Building at Kuwait International Airport
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
Dar Al Handasah/Jassim Qabazard
Not Appointed
101 - 250
award awaited for the main contract
Commercial Buildings
Health Center at Bayan Palace
Ministry of Public Works
In House
Alamiah Building Company
53
project under construction
Hospital
Immigration Headquarters at Farwaniya
Ministry of Public Works
Kuwait Technical Consultant
Not Appointed
2.5 - 15
bidding underway for the main contract
Commercial Buildings
Ideal High School at Aqaila
Ministry of Public Works/ Ministry of Education
Al Zamami Consultant
Bader Al Mulla & Brothers Company
17
project under construction
Educational Facilities
Kuwait Business Town at Al Mirqab Area - Zone 3
Kuwait Business Town Holding Company
Projacs/Pace/Fentress Bradburn
First United General Trading & Contracting
96
project under construction
Mixed Use
Al Hamra Tower
Ajial Real Estate Company
Al Jazeera Consultants
Ahmadiah Trading & Contracting
241
project under construction
Mixed Use
Hotel at Salmiya
Mr. Fahad Al Maiylem
Al Aliyan Consulting
Not Appointed
31 - 100
project under design
Hotel
Neighborhood Centre at East of Al Ahmadi
Ministry of Public Works
Kuwait Technical Consultant
Not Appointed
40
award awaited for the main contract
Mixed Use
Special Forces Training Facility
Ministry of Public Works/ Ministry of Interior
Dar Al Handasah
Alamiah Building Company
204
project under construction
Educational Facilities
Kuwait Institute of Justice
Ministry of Public Works/ Ministry of Justice
Al Zamami Consultant
Not Appointed
31 - 100
bidding underway for the main contract
Educational Facilities
Kuwait Business Town at Al Mirqab Area - Zone 1
Kuwait Business Town Holding Company
Projacs/KEO Int'l/Gensler Associates
First United General Trading & Contracting
108
project under construction
Mixed Use
Immigration Headquarters at Farwaniya
Ministry of Public Works
Kuwait Technical Consultant
Not Appointed
2.5 - 15
bidding underway for the main contract
Commercial Buildings
Avenue Shopping Mall Expansion - Phase 3
Mabanee Company
PACE/Gensler
Not Appointed
908
project under design
Shopping Centre
Medical Village in Mahaboola
The Commercial Real Estate Company
SSH/Bernard Khoury Architect
Not Appointed
220
project under design
Mixed Use
Mangaf Neighbourhood Centre
Ministry of Public Works
KEO International
Burgan Contracting
31 - 100
project under construction
Mixed Use
Service Building for PAAET in Kuwait
The Public Authority for Applied Education & Training
In House
First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting
248
project under construction
Commercial Buildings
Extension of Crowne Plaza
Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG)
Osama Bukhamseen Design
BIG Contractors
31 - 100
project under construction
Hotel
Police Station in Sulaibiya
Ministry of Interior
In House
Al Mohsen for General Trading & Contracting
2.5 - 15
project under construction
Others
Villa Compound at Fintas
Mr. Humaizi
Option One
Not Appointed
2.5 - 15
project under design
Residential Development
Suma Tower
Mr. Bassam Tuftuf
Option One
Al-Amarat Al-Jadidah Trading & Contracting
7
project under construction
Residential Buildings
Abdali Border Post Upgrade
M.A. Kharafui & Sons/Kuwait Customs/GAC
Dar Al Handasah/SSH
Not Appointed
192
award awaited for the main contract
Industrial Park
www.constructionweekonline.com
November 2009 39
PROJECT TRACKER
KUWAIT PROJECTS DATABASE - BUILDING PROJECTS FOCUS PROJECT TITLE
CLIENT
CONSULTANT
MAIN CONTRACTOR
VALUE / VALUE RANGE (US$. MN)
PROJECT STATUS
TYPE OF PROJECT
Neighbourhood Centre at Khiran New City
Ministry of Public Works
KuwaitTechnical Consultant Bureau
Recafco
52
project under construction
Mixed Use
Ministry of Education Headquarters
MPW/Ministry of Education
Cambridge 7/NBBJ/Gulf Consult
Not Appointed
251 - 500
award awaited for the main contract
Commercial Buildings
Basic Education Campus at Ardiya Female Campus
Public Authority for Applied Education & Training
Pace/Morganti
United Gulf Construction Company
138
project under construction
Educational Facilities
Ruba Residential Project
The Commercial Real Estate Company
Al Jazeera Consultants/ SSH
Wara Construction Company
32
project under construction
Residential Development
Al Agaila Neighborhood Centre
Ministry of Public Works
Bonyan Design
Al Bahar Construction
31 - 100
project under construction
Mixed Use
United Tower at Sharq
United Real Estate Company
Salem al-Marzouk & Sabah Abi Hanna/Kohn Pederson & Fox Associates
Ahmadiah Trading & Contracting
280
project under construction
Mixed Use
Crystal Tower at Sharq
Arab Real Estate Company
Projacs/HOK/Osama Bukhamseen
BIG Contractors/Shanghai Construction
61
project under construction
Commercial Buildings
Mubarak Al Abdulla Neighborhood
Ministry of Public Works
Industrial Engineering Consulting Office
Not Appointed
16 - 30
award awaited for the main contract
Mixed Use
Headquarters Building for Ministry of Awqaf
Ministry of Awqaf
Kuwait Technical Consultant Bureau
Not Appointed
31 - 100
project under design
Commercial Buildings
KREIC Headquarters Building at Sharq
Kuwait Real Estate Investment Consortium
Al Jazeera Consultants
Al Bahar Construction Company
31 - 100
project under construction
Commercial Buildings
Al Khorafi Tower at Sharq
Mr. Khorafi
Saleh Al Qallaf Consultant
Sadeem Al Kuwait General Trading & Cont.
16 - 30
project under construction
Commercial Buildings
Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Andalous
Ministry of Health
Al Aliyan Consulting
Arabi Construction
2.5 - 15
project under construction
Hospital
Villa in Massila Area
Mr. Fawaz Al Hassani
Projacs/Option One
Not Appointed
9
award awaited for the main contract
Residential Buildings
Administration Building at Kuwait International Airport
Directorate General of Civil Aviation
Dar Al Handasah/Jassim Qabazard Eng
Not Appointed
101 - 250
award awaited for the main contract
Commercial Buildings
Jaber Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Hospital
Ministry of Health / Ministry of Public Works
Gulf Consult/Langdon Wilson
Kuwait Arab Contractors
1,057
project under construction
Hospital
Hotel at Messilah
Al-Azizah United General Trading & Contracting
Gulf Consult/SOM
KCPC/Kokache
86
project under construction
Hotel
Fire Department Headquarters at Mishref
Kuwait Fire Department
Al Shaheen Engineering
Al Sager Company
2.5 - 15
project under construction
Commercial Buildings
Hospital for Physical Treatment in Kuwait
Ministry of Health
Al Aliyan Consulting
Arabi Construction
2.5 - 15
project under construction
Hospital
Kuwait Control & Meteorological Centre
Directorate General of Civil Aviation
TAEP
Sayed Hamad Behbehani & Sons
38
project under construction
Commercial Buildings
Clover Clinic
Al Mazaya Holding Company
Soor Engineering Bureau
Sadeem Al Kuwait General Trading & Cont.
25
project under construction
Hospital
Al Inayah Hospital in Abu Halifa
Al Amal Hospital
Option One
First United General Trading & Contracting
16 - 30
project under construction
Hospital
Al Baher Tower in Kuwait City
Al Bahar Group
Saleh Al Qallaf Consultant
Al Bahar Construction Company
31 - 100
project under construction
Commercial Buildings
Intercontinental Tower at Sharq
Al Emad Real Estate Company
HOK/Osama Bukhamseen Design
BIG Contractors
101 - 250
project under construction
Mixed Use
Note : The above information is the sole property of Ventures Middle East LLC and cannot be published without the expressed permission of Ventures Middle East LLC, Abu Dhabi, UAE
40 November 2009
www.constructionweekonline.com
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