MEP - May 2010 by ITP Business Publishing

MIDDLE EAST

Essential information for mechanical, electrical and plumbing mbing prof professionals fessionals

An ITP Business Publication | May 2010 Vol. 5 Issue 5

LIQUID ASSETS SEPTECH CEO DAVID HEFFERNAN ON WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

LEADER BY DESIGN KEITH HILL FROM ATKINS ON THE GROWING MATURITY OF THE MEP SECTOR

ELECTRIC Making M aking tthe he U UAE AE sself-reliant elf-reliant iinn iits ts HV HV cable cable rrequirements equirements

VENTURE

ALSO: DAVID LEE ON COST VARIATIONS IN MEP CONTRACTS

MAY 2010 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 5

CONTENTS 14

23 03 CONSTRUCTION WEEK ONLINE

the importance of water infrastructure.

05 COMMENT

30 BUSINESS LEADS Prospects for MEP contractors in Kuwait.

19 SITE VISIT 06 UPDATE

A ďŹ rst look at the Ducab HV Cable Systems plant in Jebel Ali.

33 LEGAL Dennis Brand gives notice.

11 EVENTS 23 ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS 14 THE BIG INTERVIEW Keith Hill on the growing maturity of the MEP market.

3M and Honeywell give the lowdown on the latest technology.

28 REGION IN FOCUS 16 PROFILE Septech CEO David Heffernan on

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The top MEP projects underway in Kuwait.

35 METAL MONITOR 36 PRODUCTS 40 THE LAST WORD David Lee on cost variations in MEP contracts.

May 2010 | MEP Middle East 1

Everybody is talking "going green". We have the right solar and renewable energy solutions for you. The Viessmann Group, whose head office is located in Germany, is an internationally leading manufacturer of heating system technology. With its current product range, Viessmann offers heating equipment in three distinct categories with output ranging from 1.5 kW to 20 MW. On offer are freestanding and wall mounted boilers for oil and gas, DHW calorifiers, as well as systems utilising renewables, such as heat pumps, solar heating systems and boilers for sustainable fuels. The product range is rounded off with control technology and data communication equipment. Viessmann represents quality made in Germany. Check us out at www.viessmann.com.

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CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM OM M IN PICTURES

MOST POPULAR

• Seven of the latest jobs in construction • Workers can beat the heat with ‘cooling vest’ • Construction dips as Dubai and KSA indices fall • Cityscape opens without a bang • Shifting Gears

EDITOR’S CHOICE

DUCAB HV CABLE SYSTEMS The new factory’s products will range from 66 kV to 400 kV, covering the highest voltage used in the GCC at present, and hence becoming the region’s ﬁrst dedicated high-voltage facility. For more galleries, check out www.constructionweekonline.com/galleries

COLUMNS AND FEATURES PUZZLING PIECES

THE DEATH OF 2B

Alan Millin, fmME columnist

Selina Denman, Editor, Commercial Interior Design

There is clear consensus that something is missing. Everyone seems to agree that there is a need for both technical skills and supervisory/management training.

A long-held, loyal companion of designers the world over, Mr. 2B is being unceremoniously swept aside in favour of that brash young upstart: technology.

TRACTION ATTRACTION

SEISMIC INFLUENCE

Greg Whitaker, Editor, PMV Middle East

Stuart Matthews, Senior Group Editor

The big, smoky traction engines provided a link to the future ... You can call them tractor heads or prime movers, but the main power unit for hauling heavy loads has just one ancestor.

Anyone planning a trip to Munich’s Bauma trade show found out just how much impact last Saturday, when ﬂ ights to Europe were grounded.

• Pierlite bucks downturn with AED22m upgrade • Workers can beat the heat with ‘cooling vest’ • UAE sees global launch of ﬂu-zapper air-con • Air-con goes bling with Swarovski • Call for solar-energy free zone

SPOT POLL

What is Emaar’s proﬁt a sign of

50% Stringent ﬁnancial management

25% An economic recovery

25% A bail-out bonus

0% Burj Khalifa goodwill

For more comments, check out www.constructionweekonline.com/comments www.constructionweekonline.com

May 2010 | MEP Middle East 3

The quantum leap S

The new rail-mounted terminal blocks with CAGE CLAMP S connection Simply smaller Space saving of up to 30%. Simply push in Fast wiring of stripped solid conductors and flexible conductors with ferrules. Simply jumpered Many convenient commoning and testing options Simply marked Using a continuous universal marker strip â&#x20AC;&#x201C; cannot be any faster. Simply get to know them

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WAGO Middle East Q4-282 Sharjah Airport Free Zone (SAIF) P.O. Box 120665 Sharjah, UAE Tel: +971 6 557 9920 Fax: +971 6 557 9921

COMMENT MIDDLE EAST

Registered at Dubai Media City PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: 00 971 4 210 8000 Fax: 00 971 4 210 8080 Web: www.itp.com Offices in Dubai & London ITP BUSINESS PUBLISHING CEO Walid Akawi Managing Director Neil Davies Managing Director Itp Business Karam Awad Deputy Managing Director Matthew Southwell Editorial Director David Ingham VP Sales Wayne Lowery Publishing Director Jason Bowman Business Development Manager, Saudi Arabia Rabih Naderi EDITORIAL Senior Group Editor Stuart Matthews Tel: +971 4 210 8476 email: stuart.matthews@itp.com Editor Gerhard Hope Tel: +971 4 210 8305 email: gerhard.hope@itp.com ADVERTISING Publishing Director Jason Bowman Tel: +971 4 210 8351 email: jason.bowman@itp.com Business Development Manager Atif Majid Tel: +971 4 210 8155 email: atif.majid@itp.com STUDIO Group Art Editor Dan Prescott Designer Angela Ravi PHOTOGRAPHY Director of Photography Sevag Davidian Chief Photographer Khatuna Khutsishvili Senior Photographers G-nie Arambulo, Efraim Evidor, Thanos Lazopoulos Staff Photographers Isidora Bojovic, George Dipin, Lyubov Galushko, Jovana Obradovic, Ruel Pableo, Rajesh Raghav PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION Group Production Manager Kyle Smith Deputy Production Manager Matthew Grant Production Coordinator Devaprakash V A Managing Picture Editor Patrick Littlejohn Image Retoucher Emmalyn Robles Distribution Manager Karima Ashwell Distribution Executive Nada Al Alami CIRCULATION Head of Circulation & Database Gaurav Gulati MARKETING Head of Marketing Daniel Fewtrell ITP DIGITAL Director Peter Conmy ITP GROUP Chairman Andrew Neil Managing Director Robert Serafin Finance Director Toby Jay Spencer-Davies Board of Directors K.M. Jamieson, Mike Bayman, Walid Akawi, Neil Davies, Rob Corder, Mary Serafin Circulation Customer Service Tel: +971 4 210 8000 Subscribe online at www.itp.com/subscriptions Certain images in this issue are availiable for purchase. Please contact itpimages@itp.com for further details or visit www.itpimages.com Printed by Atlas Printing Press L.L.C. Dubai The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review.

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Lessons from the Dubai Metro

ike many other Dubai residents, I am eagerly awaiting the opening of the next batch of Dubai Metro stations on the Red Line. It is strange to see the GGIC station in Garhoud, for example, brightly lit up but eerily empty, awaiting its first passengers. Hopefully by the time you read this, more stations will have been opened, as promised by the RTA. I began using the Dubai Metro on a regular basis not long after its official opening last year, and have been able to see it become an indispensable part of city life. In the beginning there were a lot of ‘joyriders’ as entire families availed themselves of the opportunity to flit between shopping centres. Now if you journey on the Dubai Metro in the early morning and late evening, it is easy to pick out the commuters who are using it as a means of daily transportation. It is also easy to pick out the tourists with their colourful casual clothing and cameras, staring in amazement out the windows as Dubai’s astonishing vista sweeps by. MEP design, installation and commissioning played a huge role in this iconic project, with Al-Futtaim Engineering one of many local companies that distinguished itself with its engineering achievements in this regard. These companies must be extremely gratified at the role they have played in ensuring Dubai’s future role as a regional leader in public infrastructure. In this issue’s news update we take a closer look at a Proleads report stating that infrastructure-related projects, funded by government ministries, are helping to ameliorate the impact of the global financial crisis on the region’s construction industry. According to Arab News, Saudi Arabia awarded development contracts worth SAR20.9 billion (US$5.6 billion) in the first quarter of this year as the Middle

East’s largest economy pursues a ﬁve-year infrastructure programme. Thus it is clear that infrastructure is a key focus area, here in Dubai and elsewhere in the region. There has been a lot of grumbling about the delayed opening of all the Red Line stations, but perhaps some delays were inevitable given the scope and complexity of the project – not to mention the impact of the global ﬁnancial crisis, which sent costs spiraling and resulted in payment delays. However, people have been remarkably patient, and have continued using the Dubai Metro in growing hordes as they await the implementation of the full system. Most of these people are blissfully unaware of the engineering challenges met and overcome by a project such as the Dubai Metro. Their main concern is when the station closest to them will be open for business. Of course, this is as it should be. MEP contractors like Al-Futtaim work quietly behind the scenes, clocking up the hours and the achievements. All indications are that the Dubai Metro is a resounding success. You just have to hop onboard during ‘rush hour’ and see it jam-packed with commuters to see how integral a part of our urban fabric it has become, and in such a short space of time. This is ample reward for all the companies who worked so long and hard on this massive project, and who continue to develop the infrastructure that will make this region a global benchmark. GERHARD HOPE Editor gerhard.hope@itp.com

ON THIS MONTH’S COVER Newly-appointed Ducab HV Cable Systems CEO Jon Vail gives readers a ﬁrst look at the AED500 million, 22 000 m² facility being built in Jebel Ali. See P19-21. Pics: Mosh Lafuente.

COMMENTS Do you have any comments about the MEP industry in the Middle East? Please e-mail any letters to: gerhard.hope@itp.com or post to: MEP Middle East, ITP Business, PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE.

Keep up-to-date with all MEP Middle East news at

May 2010 | MEP Middle East 5

UPDATE

RWI clinches AED1 million contract O-ﬂex rubber insulation is being provided for Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi INSULATION

Rubber World Industries (RWI) has won an AED1 million GulfO-ﬂex rubber insulation contract for the Al Raha Beach development in Abu Dhabi. The company’s products will be used in two major projects within the AED54 billion leisure development, namely Al Bandar, a focal point for marine, leisure and family activities, as well as the 51 000 square metre commercial ofﬁce space where Aldar Properties PJSC will establish its headquarters. Conspel Emirates LLC, a sub-contractor, has awarded the contract to RWI, which is currently in the process of delivering rubber insulation tubes and

duct insulation sheets. With a ﬂame spread rating of less than 25 and a smoke spread rating of less than 50, RWI’s rubber insulation tubes have a high capacity to retard heat loss for hot water plumbing, liquid heating and dual temperature piping. Furnished with a smooth blackcoloured skin on one side that forms the outer exposed insulation surface, 13-millimetre-thick duct insulation sheets provide elastomeric thermal insulation to retard heat gain and control condensation drip from chilled water and refrigeration systems, while simultaneously reducing heat ﬂow on hot systems. “We are currently in the process of completing the delivery

Abu Baker Shaikhani

of our products,” said RWI chairman Abu Baker Shaikhani. Al Raha is a beachfront project being built on reclaimed land at Al Raha Beach complex, occupying

an area of 6.8 million square metres with a total built-up area of 12 million square metres. Located along the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway, opposite to Al Raha Gardens, the project will provide a unique lifestyle through its world-class offering of residential, commercial, cultural, entertainment and public facilities, which will house up to 120 000 residents. The development consists of eight distinct areas, each with their own personalities and appeal. RWI has pioneered the production of Gulf-O-ﬂex in the Gulf and South-East Asia region, providing a versatile range of rubber insulation products for the oil and gas and construction industries.

MEP sub-contractor for Ajman Uptown DSI acquires SUB-CONTRACTOR

Sweet Homes General Contracting LLC (SHGC), the in-house contracting arm of the Sweet Homes Group and the main contractor for the Ajman Uptown project, has awarded two important sub-contracts for the 1 504 villas within the AED2.2 billion master development – one to Al Ibhar Electrical Contracting and Elegant Electromechanical Contracting as the MEP, air-con and fi re-fighting sub-contractor, and another to Liwa Building Contracting as the civil subcontractor. The company also announced that it has completed the substructure of all villas within the community development, which marks its fi rst key construction milestone in the project’s construction. Superstructure works are progressing rapidly across all two, three and four-bedroom townhouses and exclusively-de-

6 MEP Middle East | May 2010

signed five-bedroom VIP villas within the project. “The pace at which Ajman Uptown is transforming very closely reflects deadlines and targets we have set for it, and with the excellent work being done by SGC, we are confident that we will be able to deliver this project on time,” said Sweet Homes Holdings CEO Fahad Sattar Dero. Spanning over four million square feet, Ajman Uptown will offer two-, three- and four-bedroom townhouses and exclusively-designed five-bedroom VIP villas.

AED2.2 BILLION Value of the master development

Qatar branch ACQUISITION

Villas under construction in Ajman Uptown

The project’s outstanding design takes inspiration from classic French architecture and carries the overall theme ‘L’ Art De Vivre’. As a fully-fledged community, Ajman Uptown will ultimately house a school, a healthcare centre, a fire-fighting station, two mosques, a health and recreation club, a swimming pool, markets, shopping mall, hotel and hotel apartments and convenient and spacious parks, apart from the luxury apartments and boutique offices that will be on offer.

Drake & Scull International (DSI) has completed the acquisition of MEP contracting company Drake & Scull International Qatar (DSQ). The acquisition will allow DSI greater access to the construction sector in Qatar. “With this latest move, we have made signiﬁcant progress in meeting our strategic objective to increase DSI’s presence in the region, thus enhancing our access to a broader range of construction opportunities,” said DSI CEO Khaldoun Tabari. “DSQ is a prominent player that brings us complementary capabilities and greater geographical diversiﬁcation.” DSQ, established in 2006, has undertaken a number of MEP projects, including the New Doha International Airport project.

www.constructionweekonline.com

UPDATE

Special chillers from Zamil CHILLERS

Zamil Air Conditioners, a leading international manufacturer and service provider of air-con systems in the Middle East, has announced the development of its line of process cooling chiller systems (ASP series). These specialty chillers are designed to meet a wide range of customer needs with cooling capacities ranging from TEN to 1 000 tons. Process cooling systems are essential to the functioning of various industries and facilities. They cool or extract heat from a ﬂuid required for a process, maintain desired temperatures during a process, or cool a piece of equipment or its components. Process cooling systems must be designed and constructed to withstand the rigours of year-round performance over a wider range of operating conditions than other systems, while reliability, redundancy and ﬂexibility are issues that remain a top priority. Common process cooling applications include plastics, chemical, medical, data centres, food processing, concrete batching plants and most emergency personnel drenching facilities (shower and eye wash stations). These applications often require specially-

designed process cooling chillers. In addition, the operational efficiency and production level of such plants are significantly tied to the quality and reliability of their process chillers. “Successful process cooling for all customers is our ultimate goal. As we are the unique local producer of these essential and complicated systems, we strive to provide the cost-effective, robust designs that assure maximum uptime, as well as the professional services and low-cost operation our customers need to operate at the highest level of efficiency and profitability,” said Fawaz Bitar, chiller product unit head at Zamil Air Conditioners. Zamil Air Conditioners process cooling systems are designed to handle precision process cooling situations that require more demanding thermal and mechanical performance, more sophisticated control systems and higher expectations for reliability, flexibility and lower operating costs. The first group of new process cooling chiller systems has already been manufactured and delivered. They are currently in use at project sites operated by some of the region’s top companies and industrial organisations.

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May 2010 | MEP Middle East 7

UPDATE

GCC spearheads infrastructure focus Heavy investment in infrastructure helping to reduce contraction in construction industry INFRASTRUCTURE

Government-led investment in major infrastructure and strategic projects is helping to reduce the contraction in construction activity in the GCC, according to the organisers of CityBuild Abu Dhabi, which took place in April at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. “Government or governmentrelated investment in shipyard, seaport and airport expansions and new hospitals, colleges and universities, as well as major road upgrades, now make up a signiﬁcant and growing proportion of the region’s construction activity,” said Graham Wood, group director of CityBuild Abu Dhabi. “The Q4 2009 report published by Proleads features a table of projects varying in value from US$50 million to US$5 billion. It shows that, in most of the six GCC countries, it is infrastructure-related projects that are leading the way, funded by government ministries,

authorities or government-related entities. Although the entire GCC has been affected by the global downturn, there are still tremendous opportunities throughout the region,” added Wood. Putting the current construction picture into perspective on a Middle East basis, Proleads Global director Emil Rademeyer said there are around half a trillion dollars worth of building projects in the region. Of these, 48% are being executed and 27% are in the preexecution phase, while 20% are on hold and 5% are cancelled. “Of all the GCC countries, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been the least affected by the global downturn. With a large and young population, Saudi Arabia has domestic demand that will ensure growth in all sectors as young Saudis enter the workforce every year. “The government has prioritised job creation. This, in turn, requires heavy investment in

Delegates at CityBuild Abu Dhabi 2010

infrastructure such as power, water, utilities, transport and healthcare. In addition, with the oil price comfortably above US$70 and forecast to remain there, many infrastructure projects are certain to come to fruition. Therefore, the mediumterm outlook for Saudi Arabia in particular is positive. “Qatar, with massive revenues from gas, has probably the least worries about liquidity in the

GCC. Isolated by long-term pricing agreements, Qatar remains unaffected by oil-commodity ﬂuctuations. Moreover, the Qatari government is working to ensure its infrastructure will rival the best in the region. “Although the UAE has been hit, the level of construction is still the highest compared to neighbouring countries. Thanks to Abu Dhabi, 2010 will be a lucrative year for the Emirates.”

Local player in alliance with Turkish-European group Exclusive agreement to distribute integrated solar water heating systems in UAE, Qatar ALLIANCE

IMEC Electro Mechanical Engineering of Sharjah has entered into an exclusive alliance with a major Turkish manufacturer to distribute integrated solar water heating systems in the UAE and Qatar. Such integrated systems represent a new opportunity for the MEP market in the region, says IMEC executive director Aslan Al-Barazi. “Integrated solar water heating solutions are fundamental to the region. This is still a new area of technical knowledge and experience in terms of the MEP market in the UAE. “Hence the local knowledge and experience of the market are still 8 MEP Middle East | May 2010

in the early growth stage,” says Al-Barazi. The current local trend is for designers and contractors to hand the complete solar design

Ayfer Ozdemir and Aslan Al-Barazi

scope and supply to one specialist manufacturer or company. “Large-capacity solar water heating units such as offered by the Baymak-BDR Thermea group are ideal for central solar system design, such as a relatively small solar district water heating/plant room or central solar water heating on top of a tall building, where space is limited or is at a premium in terms of cost,” says Al-Barazi. The Baymak-BDR Thermea Group is one of the few solar water heating companies globally offering integrated solutions that include complete solar system design with auxiliary boilers, says Al-Barazi. All the components of the system, including solar pan-

els and boilers, are manufactured by the company itself. In terms of the alliance, IMEC will distribute solar water heaters and boilers of the Baymak-BDR Thermea group in the UAE and Qatar exclusively. “Products will be imported from Turkey and fully assembled in the UAE by IMEC under the supervision of Baymak. IMEC will have a specialised plumbing sales and operation division to cater for the new products,” says Al-Barazi. “We are happy to enter into this alliance with IMEC, and feel we have found the right company for long-term co-operation,” comments Baymak-BDR Thermea Group export manager. www.constructionweekonline.com

UPDATE

Active chilled beams from Trane Can be used in combination with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;greenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; technologies such as heat recovery AIR-CON

The increasing focus on sustainability and green building has resulted in Trane launching the latest cooling technology in the region. The company has announced it is introducing active chilled beams with integrated controls to the Europe, Middle East, India and Africa markets. Active chilled beams are compact ceiling- or surface-mounted units with two or four pipe coils providing both heating and cooling. Unlike passive chilled beams, active chilled beams have an integral constant air-ďŹ&#x201A;ow supply passing through nozzles which induce air from the space up through the cooling or heating coil. The ďŹ ltered air allows for improved control of temperature and humidity, generating better

indoor air quality. Trane high-performance ZN523 zone controls are factory-mounted onto the chilled beams units, pre-conďŹ gured and tested to meet the requirements of their speciďŹ c application. This minimises time spent coordinating control integration before or during installation. Energy efďŹ ciency is inherent to the technology, which requires higher chilled water and lower hot water temperatures than conventional terminal units, allowing for primary airďŹ&#x201A;ow temperatures closer to ambient. In combination with a variable speed pump, additional energy savings can be achieved. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Trane active chilled beams are designed to combine high output and low energy input,â&#x20AC;? said Jo De Clercq, air systems portfolio leader for Trane. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Providing comfort

Trane active chilled beams are designed to combine high output and low energy input

with tighter control, Trane chilled beams offer a tailored terminal solution to help meet speciďŹ c customer needs and maximise their system performance.â&#x20AC;?

Trane offers chilled beam units designed to integrate into ceiling systems, as well as exposed surface-mounted units that can incorporate lighting.

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www.constructionweekonline.com

May 2010 | MEP Middle East 9

UPDATE

RSS launches mobile water solution Coincides with launch of new ofﬁce in Cyprus to serve the Mediterranean market RENTAL

Rental Solutions & Services (RSS), a global provider of rental power and cooling, has launched its latest product offering, temporary desalination or mobile water, to coincide with its new office in Cyprus to serve the Mediterranean market. RSS MD Milan Balac says the Cyprus office will serve as the company’s hub in for the Mediterranean region. “Temporary desalination water for several islands and resorts will now benefit from uninterrupted supply of fresh water. “Aside from the Middle East and Asian region, we are confident that our rental power, temporary cooling and mobile desalination plant will benefit the Mediterranean region, in particular Cyprus, Montenegro, Gibraltar, Spain, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.” RSS group marketing manager Robert Bagatsing explains that rental desalination, or mobile water technology, has various applications, especially in areas where fresh water is scarce or non-existent. “RSS can supply water for any application in areas that have limited supply of fresh water or no potable water.”

PACKAGED SOLUTIONS Southern Gulf GM Lee Cox says RSS can also provide packaged temporary desalination water solutions for many applications such as construction, district cooling plants, military and municipal government, power plants, reﬁneries, pulp and paper, steel, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, semiconductor, textile, laundry, agricultural nurseries and greenhouses, water-supply distributors, hospitals and livestock farms. 10 MEP Middle East | May 2010

RSS Water Solutions on the move

RSS products and services have a wide spectrum of business applications in the Gulf region, as well as in Central Asia, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as in Oman, Yemen, India and Pakistan, all of which beneﬁ t from temporary turnkey engineered solutions from RSS. Colin Cave, GM for Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, also comments that “RSS will not only provide fresh water to several Gulf countries, but in any countries that requires mobile desalination water, especially in the event of natural calamities like earthquakes or any form of disasters. “RSS can respond quickly and provide rental water solutions for entire communities. RSS understands that every emergency-related call is criti-

RSS can supply water for any application in areas that have limited supply of fresh water or no potable water.“ – Robert Bagatsing cal. We should be swift, organised and reliable. That is why we are committed to provide excellence in everything that we offer.” Simon Urquhart, group technical manager for RSS mobile desalination division, explains that “RSS mobile desalination systems use the most advanced reverse osmosis technology available in the market. In layman’s terms, we can convert brackish water from a river, lake or borehole to potable water, and we can also convert

seawater to potable fresh water, complying with all European potable water standards. The potable water can be consumed for drinking, cleaning, irrigation or other applications. “If a company or a community has limited fresh water supply, RSS can provide fresh potable water anywhere, anytime, any weather conditions or any situations. Our containerised reverse osmosis containers can be transported by trailer or barge and can be skid-mounted for longer hire.” www.constructionweekonline.com

UPDATE

Solar panels for Burj Khalifa Dubai’s most iconic building stands tall in energy efﬁciency ENERGY EFFICIENCY

The Burj Khalifa is using solar panels to heat 140 000 litres of water every day, which will be distributed to homes and commercial entities within the tower. The solar-powered water brings energy savings of about 3 200 kW a day and 690 MWh of energy a year, according to developer Emaar Properties. This thermal-energy initiative highlights Emaar’s commitment to partner with the government in pursuit of its sustainable development goals. “Energy-efficient measures, especially through use of renewable sources, are not an option, but an imperative for sustainable growth,” says Emaar Properties MD Ahmad Al Matroshi. By leveraging solar power, the Burj Khalifa is setting an example, as well as creating a benchmark for how urban developments can effectively integrate energy-friendly initiatives. The solar heating system has been installed by SOLE UAE Solar Systems, the oldest solar thermal company in Europe. “The Burj Khalifa presented us with a remarkable opportunity to use solar energy to meet the water heating needs of residents in the tower,” says John Owen of SOLE UAE. Significant benefits include cost-savings on energy use – not only for the

2.7 square metres in area

378 collector panels

140 000 litres heated

www.constructionweekonline.com

The Burj Khalifa presented us with a remarkable opportunity to use solar energy to meet the water-heating needs of residents in the tower.“ - John Owen

Burj Khalifa

tower, but the government utility provider, too – as well as reduced pollution levels, leading to a healthier environment. The solar panels of the Burj Khalifa serve as solar collectors, as opposed to photovoltaic electricity generation. Located on the roof of The Ofﬁces, the annexure of the Burj Khalifa, 378 collector panels, each 2.7 m² in area, can heat the entire 140 000 litres of water in about seven hours of daytime solar radiation. Among other key sustainable energy and water use measures, the condensate from all the air-con equipment in the Burj Khalifa is reclaimed to cool the

potable water from Dewa. The condensate is then collected in an on-site irrigation tank and used for the tower’s landscaping. This system will provide about 15 million gallons of supplemental water a year. Within the confi nes of the Burj Khalifa’s architectural design – that of a tall building with a fully-glazed façade and little solar shading – a concerted effort has been made in the design and construction to make it environment-friendly. To ensure energy efficiency, fresh-air handling units have been fitted with thermal wheels and, wherever possible, economiser modes as well. Additionally, there is extensive use of variable speed drives on the air-handling and watercirculating equipment to also add to the overall energy effi ciency. The air-con and water systems also incorporate extensive energy-saving control systems to reduce part-load energy consumption. The Burj Khalifa’s cladding system is constructed to international environmental standards, with a high shading co-efficient and a low U-value so as to reduce the transfer of external heat gains. Additional energy-use efficiency measures in place include automated solar shading at entrance pavilions. Measures to reduce water consumption include water-fl ow restrictors and low water volume sanitaryware installed in all public areas.

EVENTS REBUILD IRAQ 3-6 May Amman, Jordan www.rebuild-iraq-expo.com GULF BID 4-6 May Manama, Bahrain www.gulfbidexhibition.com CLIMA 2010 9-12 May Antalya, Turkey http://www.clima2010.org 9TH ARAB ENERGY CONFERENCE 9-12 May Doha, Qatar http://aec9.oapecorg.org DOMOTEX/R+T ME 10-12 May Dubai International Conference & Exhibition Centre www.domotex-middle-east.com BUILDEX SYRIA 12-16 May Damascus, Syria www.buildexonline.com FM EXPO 2010 18-20 May Dubai International Conference & Exhibition Centre www.eventseye.com HARDWARE + TOOLS MIDDLE EAST 18-20 May Dubai International Conference & Exhibition Centre www.hardwaretoolsme.com MIDDLE EAST WASTE SUMMIT 2010 18-20 May Dubai Airport Expo Centre www.turretme.com FM AWARDS 2010 19 May, Dubai www.itp.net/events SAUDI AIRCON 23-26 May Riyadh Exhibition Centre www.eventseye.com

May 2010 | MEP Middle East 11

AWARDS

Judging panel for MEP Awards 2010 Premier platform for the industry in the region to recognise its achievements AWARDS

The MEP Awards 2010 is the premier platform for the mechanical, electrical and plumbing sector in the UAE to recognise its achievements, honour those individuals and companies who made these happen, and to acknowledge the latest innovations, technology and processes that have helped drive down costs and ensure adherence to best-practice standards in the industry. The awards is also an opportunity to highlight the excellence in MEP design and installation underpinning those iconic projects contributing to the evolving and rapidly-maturing construction landscape in the UAE. The combination of a global economic downturn and the advent of environmental awareness in the construction industry have resulted in the MEP sector playing a pivotal role in the advent of ‘green’ building in the UAE. It is an old but valid maxim that extraordinary circumstances lead to extraordinary achievements. The MEP Awards 2010 is the perfect occasion to acknowledge the sterling efforts and achievements of the sector in ensuring its continued viability and innovation in light of current constraints and global economic volatility. The MEP Awards have been growing in stature and popularity over the years, with a steady increase in the number and diversity of entries. This year is the fourth MEP Awards, and the judging panel for this year’s event has already been assembled:

Last year’s awards and winners (right) 12 MEP Middle East | May 2010

strategy of continuous innovation, since taking over his father, Fahed Al-Barazi, in 2002. Aslan is an acknowledged local expert in cooling tower technology, ventilation and thermal ice storage technologies.

KEITH HILL

YOUSEF ALSHAER Alshaer is a mechanical engineering graduate with a Master’s in Project Management. He has over 25 years’ professional experience in engineering, project management and business management in a variety of environments. He is currently serving as the president of ASHRAE Falcon Chapter.

CATHY CROCKER

Hill is highly experienced in most forms of building design in respect of building services integration and design. In his role as Design Director for Building Services for the Atkins ofﬁce in Dubai, he is responsible for managing the building services design ofﬁce across all disciplines. The role also requires detailed co-ordination and management during the handover of projects from the design team to the site application team and, in many instances, providing a watching brief over site works during periods of design/statutory authority change.

Scott Wilson Group plc is a global integrated design and engineering consultancy for the built and natural environments. With its headquarters in the UK, the group has a worldwide network of 80 ofﬁces and over 6 000 employees. Scott Wilson offers strategic consultancy and multi-disciplinary professional services in the railways, buildings and infrastructure, environment and natural resources and roads sectors. Its key regions are the UK, Asia-Paciﬁc, Europe, India and the Middle East, with regional centres in London, Hong Kong, Warsaw, New Delhi and Bahrain/Dubai. For more information visit www. constructionweekonline.com

ASLAN AL-BARAZI IMEC Electro Mechanical Engineering has been present in the region for 37 years, pursuing some of the latest technological innovations in the HVAC/district cooling market. Executive director Aslan Al-Barazi has a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering from George Washington University of the US. He has been spearheading the company’s market growth, based on a www.constructionweekonline.com

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THE BIG INTERVIEW

Leader by

design

Atkins design director: building services Keith Hill explains how the MEP industry in the Middle East is maturing into a more European-type model. mployed initially by Roger Preston & Partners, Hill came over to the Middle East to work on the Chicago Beach Resort Development, later called the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Wild Wadi, one of the region’s most iconic developments. But the project for which Hill has the biggest soft spot is as unassuming as the Jumeirah Beach Hotel is famous. “Obviously many projects stand out due to the great people one has worked with. I think you obviously pick out the big high-rises like the Almas Tower and different projects like The Address, Downtown Dubai. But for me probably the project I have used the most and the one I certainly get the most value out of is the Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS), because both my boys go there for one thing. It is a great community school and a kind of a model.” To a certain extent, this reﬂects the general shift in the construction industry from iconic projects to basic infrastructure. “In terms of Atkins, we want to be the world’s best infrastructure consultant. What do we mean; don’t we do pipes and wires? Put this into context and you realise that Atkins covers so much more than what people perceive, from roads to everything in the built environment.”

AUSPICIOUS START The Jumeirah Beach Hotel marked an auspicious start for Hill in the MEP sector in the region. “It was certainly by far the biggest project in the Middle East. From what I understand, it was the second- or third-largest commercial project in the world at the time. It was a good challenge, and a good experience.” This ﬂagship project was followed by the Asian ﬁnancial crisis of 1997, which 14 MEP Middle East | May 2010

resulted in “a little dip, certainly very minor compared to what happened ten years later.” Hill subsequently returned to the UK to work for Atkins in its London ofﬁce. The Middle East market is characterised by shorter timelines, he says. “When you are working here, timelines are more constrained, but things actually get built. So you tend not to have that big lag on a project, whereas in Europe there is quite a lot more prior consultation, which is all good and what should be done. So the industry differs slightly in its approach to major projects.” Hill then returned to the Middle East at the beginning of 2002, which marked the beginning of the most recent and sustained boom period in the construction industry as a whole. “That year it started edging up and just kept on going ever since. Business was obviously good in the period from 2002 to mid2008, until it all started to go pear-shaped in the world economy. Up to that point we were delivering some considerable square meterage of projects that we had actually designed, delivered and handed over. That rate of work was sustainable up to a point, but then it just seemed to go through one of those stages where it was driven more by world events than by anything else,” says Hill. Did the boom period mean that health and safety and build quality were inevitably compromised? “Certainly not for Atkins; we have always had a very strong health and safety focus. Yes, it does get tailored to the local market in terms of client expectations. We have had a strong health and safety focus since our Chicago Beach days, which set a high benchmark, and I would like to think this is something that has never been degraded over time.” Hill says the construction industry in general in the Middle East has “matured seriously” in terms of health and safety in general. “It is much more respected now, and the

statistics are good, which is as it should be.” As for the latest buzzwords of sustainability and green building, Hill says Atkins interprets this as Carbon Critical Design (CCD), which is an Atkins trademark, along with the strapline ‘Plan Design Enable’. “That is really what we are focused on, and it probably puts it into slightly more context for people, because sustainability is such a huge, all-encompassing statement. I think it is such a broad statement because it means different things to different people.

CLIENT FOCUS “It is great to get people motivated, but then it needs to be tailored. It is almost as if there are just too many good ideas. They are all good stuff, but which one should the client focus on, particularly at a property level?” This is where CCD comes into its own. “It has certainly proven useful, and has provided good momentum,” says Hill. Atkins is working on high-level carbon-critical planning tools at present, which will ultimately lead to design and then operational tools. “We have not gotten quite that far yet. It is a whole suite, all driving to the same point of everyone becoming really conscious of building energy management.” Has this new focus, in turn, added another level of complexity to MEP? “I think there is a level of complexity with everything we do in terms of engineering. However, most of it derives from the relatively straightforward starting point of what the end user needs.” If all these boxes are ticked, says Hill, then a proper scope of works can be deﬁned. “Only then can you actually deal with getting the building form right and addressing functionality through space. However, more important than anything else is whether or not people can use the space. It is all about people.” Initially this plays very strongly into www.constructionweekonline.com

THE BIG INTERVIEW We want to be the world’s best infrastructure consultant. Atkins covers so much more than what people perceive, from roads to everything in the built environment. “ Keith Hill

the hands of the architect, “but it has huge overlaps with the engineering sector. All that is basic stuff, and you have not designed anything yet. It is just about the underlying thought processes.” It is only at this stage that one “can start looking at how the process follows ‘good’ or ‘better’ engineering. It is not a case of saying we are not good engineers; it is a case of saying just check what you are doing and where you are going, and whether or not you can introduce anything that might be better without going over the top. You are just relooking at your basic fundamentals in terms of the end user, which is always where you are coming from, as opposed to the next step, which is energy recovery.”

COMPLEX Hill says this is “not just an engineer’s problem, but an architect’s issue as well.” Recovery technologies are then followed by the final step, which is renewable energy. “It is very easy to jump to the final one without going through all those other steps. You can throw a lot of toys at the problem, such as putting in photovoltaics. However, this means you have missed the first step, because you have made it very complex for the end user to

www.constructionweekonline.com

understand what they are supposed to do. “Our experience at Atkins is to hand a building over to a client and then do a walk through with and presentation to the engineers, explaining why we have done things in a certain way, and what the maintenance issues are, as we did with The Address,” says Hill. In some way this is a pragmatic means of ensuring due diligence in the design process itself. “We deﬁnitely feel we are doing the right thing and are going in the right direction. Whether the industry is catching up to us or we are merely catching up with the general industry trends, I do not know. At the end of the day we are all innovating and moving forward at the same time, and that is really key to the whole process.” Commenting on the fact that a lot of new building stock in Dubai, for example, is perceived as being not particularly energyefﬁcient, Hills says this could be a general misperception. “There are things there that could perhaps be better, but at the time they were designed I am sure they were right. Again there is a level of context that needs to be given. It is very easy to make snap judgement calls; we all do it. That is why ‘soundbiting’ is so dangerous at times. Everything needs to have a context. If it can be evolved

or innovated or moved forward, then clearly it should be. Now whether or not that takes more money – it certainly takes more time – I do not know. It has to be undertaken on a project-by-project, and even a sub-component by sub-component, level at times.” In terms of speciﬁc projects that Atkins is working on at the moment, Hill says many consultants are wary of giving away such information at present. “A lot of our projects are at the very early stage. Combined with the economic crisis, people are a little bit more nervous than usual. Maybe they have not tied up all their downstream issues, and there are no people at the end of the line queuing to snap up the assets, as they were before.”

LONGER PROCESS Added to this, says Hill, is “a case of, I guess, more process in the paperwork now, mirroring the European market more, and becoming more prevalent here. This is all good, as it brings a different level of innovation and understanding to bear, but it is bound to slow things down further. If you are actually going to audit yourself every time you do a development or a master plan, you cannot do it in a snap judgement way, because then you are not according it your due respect.” What this all means at the end of the day is “in my view a slightly more mature market,” says Hill. In terms of speciﬁc challenges, he cites ongoing transition as a major issue. “I think we are in that big transition stage right now, certainly if you look at Abu Dhabi as a focal market. It is now the centre of attention, probably as it used to be back in the 1980s. “We have been in the Middle East for over 40 years now. We started originally in Umm Al Qawain. We are used to working in what is perceived as alien or different markets. We are actually moving back into such areas again as they have got a chance to spread their wings and do something different.”

May 2010 | MEP Middle East 15

PROFILE

Liquid assets Septech is a leading water infrastructure provider. CEO David Heffernan talks about the company’s regional expansion and innovation drive. Can you give us a bit of your background and your involvement with Septech? I have been involved heavily in the industry for over 22 years, ranging from designing, installation, project management and commissions through to the CEO position, running a global water, wastewater and infrastructure business. Today I am still very hands on, but our growth plans have me travelling weekly, whereby my role is more strategic, in a business development role. Septech’s development reflects the evolution of the regional wastewater sector? Septech Emirates LLC was incepted in 1997 in the Emirate of Sharjah. The founders, after 15 years’ experience in the precast infrastructure and wastewater-treatment industry in Australia, made a strategic decision to establish operations in the UAE, given the projected population and construction growth poised for the coming decades. After 13 years of operation, Septech has grown to become a regionally-recognised water and wastewater infrastructure company. The group has grown its operations from its initial purpose-built facility in Sharjah to multi-purpose offices and factories in Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khamiah and, more recently, the establishment of its regional and international offices in Australia, Oman and Saudi Arabia. What have been some of the company’s highlights to date? Over the last 14 years, Septech has partnered with General Electric, Pacsoft, Bellingham Marine and Shuaa Capital, extending its strategic investments in key emerging markets across the region, with landmark projects including the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai Festival City, Dubai Marina, Saadiyat Island, Royal Yas Marina, Dubai Sports City and Atlantis. Septech has a proven track record to tackle challenges and provide innovative and technology-driven water and utility solutions to local governments, ruling families and private developers. In FY2009 Septech under16 MEP Middle East | May 2010

A typical water-treatment plant

took the completion of a number of water and wastewater projects in the UAE. Some of the more recognisable projects have included: • Saadiyat Island, mobile desalination plant, a million litres a day; • Saadiyat Island, desalination plant, ten million litres a day; • Royal Yas Island, marina; • Jumeirah Beach Hotel, marina; and • Yas Island sewage-treatment plant, 3.5 million litres a day Regional expansion is an important part of your strategy? Given the experience and global partnerships created with leading water and wastewater companies, Septech has been able to extend its product offering from its base in the UAE to its established commercial entities in the

Middle East. Part of the structure Septech has developed allows for a large selection of its products to be offered on a domestic basis, allowing for competitive pricing and project implementation techniques that are attractive to the local market. Moving forward into FY2010, Septech is developing a number of innovative packaged treatment solutions for both the clean-water and wastewater industry sectors to assist governments, contractors and associated developers in their projects. You have just established ofﬁces in Oman and Saudi Arabia? Septech has spent considerable time in FY2009 establishing itself in neighboring GCC countries in view of engaging in projects over the course of FY2010 and many years to www.constructionweekonline.com

PROFILE Septech is developing a number of innovative packaged treatment solutions for both the cleanwater and wastewater industry sectors to assist governments, contractors and associated developers in their projects. “ David Heffernan

come. In FY2009, Septech successfully established its operations in Saudi Arabia, Oman and Australia. In terms of direction, Septech is focusing on a number of projects in the treated sewage and clean water sectors in Oman and Saudi Arabia, along with identifying a number of marine opportunities that are coming online in the GCC towards the middle part of FY2010. In terms of North Africa, Septech is finalising its commercial entity in Libya to cater for the North African marketplace, along with focusing on specific opportunities in Australia. Wastewater and utilities management are becoming increasingly important? In terms of the overall industry analysis, there is a strong acknowledgement that the Middle East has an accelerating water-scarcity issue, driven by population growth and urbanisation. Both are mutually exclusive in terms of their impact on driving the requirements for water and wastewater; however, collectively these elements are providing opportunities for water and wastewater companies to redefine their offerings. Septech has been identifying a number of market-entry strategies for all the Middle East, which has been more specifically attributed towards the decentralisation of water and wastewater assets versus the conventional centralised infrastructure. In countries like Saudi Arabia, the government has been faced with a number of challenges in terms of its water and wastewater infrastructure, along with more emerging economies in South Asia and North Africa, which are attempting to provide a large quantity of potable water to their populations. What are your biggest opportunities and challenges at present? Septech is confident that the products being introduced today are significantly more attractive than those which are available curwww.constructionweekonline.com

rently, for two specific reasons. Firstly, the shift towards packaged and mobile technologies has proved to be more suitable for both governments and contractors who have more temporary requirements whilst they are considering upgrading their brownfield sites or completing tenders for greenfield sites. Septech’s offering in this vertical segment allows for either the capital investment into redeployable water and wastewater assets or a potential rental programme over a short period of time. Given the current state of the economy, the option to rent infrastructure assets is commercially more attractive.

work no longer represent a viable commercial opportunity.

How has the economic downturn impacted on Septech? In most of the industry sectors that Septech has operated in, there have been significant signs of development projects coming offline or being slowed down for an indefinite period. In terms of government spending on critical infrastructure, which includes water and wastewater, there have been evident signs of larger investments being made. The existing client base of Septech has remained intact in terms of clients that the group has been working for over the past five years. New market entrants have not been as exposed to the group.

How does marine MEP ﬁt into your broader portfolio? The marine industry has ﬂourished enormously over the past decade, and has provided a number of opportunities that Septech’s marine business has been able to turn into successful contract awards. The business has now increased in terms of world-renowned product offerings, such as the Bellingham pontoon system, installation, MEP and commissioning, to also include the option of operating and maintaining marinas using in-house capabilities, based on the industry-recognised marina management systems developed by PacSoft.

Do you expect an upturn in business compared to last year? What is your view going forward? Septech has made strong efforts to establish ofﬁces in neighboring GCC countries which are facing a number of water and wastewater scarcity issues. The UAE has been a strong base for the group over the past 14 years and will remain the headquarters for the foreseeable future. In light of the current economic climate, Septech believes that there are still a number of visible opportunities in the industry; however, a number of developments which may have formed a large pipeline of

You are also heavily involved in desalination? The GCC represents about 29% of the global desalination market. With this large market share growing continually, the industry has a huge reliance on providing the latest developments/trends to ensure they can sell their products and services. Septech and its team have strong alliances/relationships with leading global players, which allows us to access these products, both technical and commercial, before they are released to our clients, which has placed us at the forefront of innovation and fuelled our continual growth.

29%

The GCC’s share of the global desalination market

May 2010 | MEP Middle East 17

SITE VISIT

High voltage MEP Middle East speaks to newly-appointed Ducab HV Cable Systems CEO Jon Vail about the JV’s plan to make the UAE self-reliant in terms of its HV requirements.

t present, DEWA is contracting out most of the UAE’s high voltage (HV) cable requirements to international players like ABB of Switzerland, Areva of France, Siemens of Germany and Riyadh Cables of Saudi Arabia. Ducab HV Cable Systems – a joint venture between DEWA, ADWEA and Ducab – aims to slash supply-chain costs and lead times by meeting all the UAE’s requirements locally. Its products will range from 66 kV to 400 kV, covering the highest voltage used in the GCC at present, and hence becoming the region’s ﬁrst dedicated high-voltage facility. “We will focus on 66 kV and 132 kV cables in our initial start-up, and then move gradually onto 400 kV, where the test cycle is about one-and-a-half years,” says Vail. “Ducab currently supplies 50% of the UAE’s low- and medium-voltage requirements. Once fully operational, Ducab HV Cable Systems plans to sell over AED1 billion

www.constructionweekonline.com

worth of cable and associated services annually, of which about 60% will be consumed in the UAE. The remainder will be exported to the GCC and nearby Asian and North African areas,” says Vail. The total cost of the new facility is AED500 million, including working capital. It is being built on a 22 000 m² area adjacent to Ducab’s existing facility in Jebel Ali. The groundbreaking ceremony was in November 2009, with Khansaheb as the main civils contractor and MACAir as the main MEP contractor. The piling contractor was Dutco Balfour Beatty, while the new facility was designed by Holfords, the architectural division of Hyder Consulting.

PARALLEL “From a construction point of view, the factory will be completed early next year, by the end of January. Khansaheb has agreed to a time-saving schedule for us to install the machinery in parallel. This will allow us to start installing machines probably by Q2 and Q3 this year. Some of the machines have arrived already, so we just need to get the foundation details sorted out on-site,” says Vail. “All the equipment has been sourced from major European companies. It is very similar to the equipment we have already, only bigger. The lead time is ten to 14 months. The build time for the factory when we started was only 12 months, so we had to order the equipment in advance. The equipment deﬁned the size of the building. It is not as if we have a building of a predetermined size and will then try and ﬁt everything in; the

May 2010 | MEP Middle East 19

SITE VISIT building was designed to accommodate the specific equipment we need,” says Vail. It is these specific requirements that have resulted in some specific architectural features of the new facility. “It is unusual for a factory because it has a very tall tower over 150 m high, or the equivalent of a 40-storey building. This is necessary for the vertical extrusion process, which we think is the best way to make high-quality cable. There are al extrusion, alternatives involving horizontal ty is as high. but we do not think the quality This means we have invested more capital in esult will be a the facility itself, but the end result il. better-quality product,” says Vail. tors of these He points out that the conductors 400 kV cables are 2 500 mm², which is a thousand times bigger than a standard se cables household wire. The reels these eter. “The are wound onto are 5 m in diameter. es is the major issue with such big cables electrical stress, which is just voltage ss means divided by distance. More stress that the slightest weakness orr defect can cause the cable to break down – and no one ese cables. can afford to take a risk with these

“ Once fully operational, Ducab HV Cable Systems plans to sell more than AED1 billion worth of cable and associated services annually, of which 60% will be consumed in the UAE. “ Jon Vail

40-YEAR LIFESPAN “If a building wire does not work, k, a light goes out. If a low-voltage cable fails, a street may be without power. However, if one of these ong, you high-voltage cables goes wrong, take half of the city out, so you cannot afford to take any risk.” This is why ned to these cables, which are designed be in use for 40 years, require a onemple of year test as a representative sample the intended lifespan. Vail explains that vertical extrusion is the preferred method for insulating high-voltage cables. “On a medium-voltage cable, say 11 kV, you ulation. may need up to 3.5 mm of insulation. u need Then if you go up to 400 kV, you 40 times that. Thus you have to reduce the overall size of the cable by making nversely the insulation thinner, which conversely increases the electrical stress. The real challenge is to be able to make this layer

IN NUMBERS S 20 000 t structural steel and rebar 30 000 m³ concrete 120 000 m³ backﬁll

20 MEP Middle East | May 2010

www.constr www.constructionweekonline.com

SITE VISIT PROFESSIONAL TEAM Consultant/Design: Hyder/Holfords Project Manager: Derek King, AECOM Civil contractor: Khansaheb Piling: Dutco Balfour Beatty MEP contractor: MACAir

withstand such added stress, which means the extrusion conditions have to be absolutely pure and precise. The good thing is that Ducab, right from the outset, has always had a reputation for quality. This then is really just going that one step further,” says Vail. “Once we have installed the machines, there is still commissioning to do, and of course there is quite extensive quality testing. Without the quality being good, we will not let it out of the factory. We are building a laboratory facility speciﬁcally for highvoltage testing, including a Faraday Cage, which is like a big metal box to stop any interference from radios and mobile phones, for example, so we can pick up any potential defects in the form of very tiny electrical impulses. In the future we hope to use this laboratory for facility for R&D work in collaboration with universities,” says Vail.

CHALLENGES Commenting on the challenges associated with the project, Vail says: “With a clean slate, the boundaries are removed, so you have to look at your existing facilities and ask that if you had to do it again, what could you do better?” Some improvements to be introduced at Ducab HV Cable Systems are the introduction of skylights to allow more natural light in, and the use of ambient heating for some of the processes. The cooling water needed

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will be circulated in a closed system to increase efficiency, while wastewater will be collected and reused for irrigation purposes. In addition, condensate water from the factory roof will also be collected and reused. “We have a dedicated engineering team working on all the ‘green’ aspects, which also include fittings, lights and taps,” says Vail. Commenting on the new facility’s business plan, Vail says that although it is designed specifically for high-voltage cables, it can make smaller sizes as well. “We will need to keep the factory busy with the 66 kV to 132 kV range, which are the bigger volumes and do not require the one-year test. The highvoltage side will be project-driven by DEWA and ADWEA, which will grow their offtake gradually. The utilities are key customers of Ducab, and have been for many years.” As for when the first cable will emerge from the new facility, Vail says: “I expect to be able to fully make and test cable from the new facility by Q1 next year.” The first step in this process is to get the insulation line running, which is critical in terms of the overall quality of the cable. “We have the advantage of being able to get conductor from the existing Ducab facility next door, run it through the new insulation line, make a cable and test it until that process is right.” In terms of logistics, Vail says the new facility will simply tap into Ducab’s existing supply-chain operation. “Where we have specialised requirements, such as for these particularly big cable reels and their handling, we may appoint some external experts.” In terms of the overall management team for the new facility, Vail says he is the first appointee. “We will start to recruit later in the year. At the moment we have a Ducab team of about 30 working on the project. Overall we will create about 100 jobs when the new facility is fully up and running.”

May 2010 | MEP Middle East 21

We create the world’s best indoor climate for people and the environment We help our customers to save money by improving their energy saving potential whilst conserving the environment. We achieve this by offering energy saving systems with chilled beams and high efﬁcient energy recovery. Swegon is one of the leading manufacturers of equipment for air treatment in Europe. However, our vision is to create the world’s best indoor climate for people, with the least possible impact on the environment. Swegon’s development of ventilation products focuses on four key objectives: High energy efﬁciency and reduced carbon footprint Maximum comfort Low installation costs Minimum space requirement For further information, please contact: Gunnar Svensson, Swegon Mobile: +971 50 919 7181 E-mail: gunnar.svensson@swegon.ae

www.swegon.com

Bassel Anbari, InterCool Mobile: +971 50 667 0527 E-mail: Bassel@intercool.ae

SwegonSolutions

ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS

Electrical showcase Electrical products run the gamut from wiring and jointing to controls and sensors. We speak to two major players about growth in the region and the latest technologies. MARTIN PARSONS, MANAGER, 3M ELECTRO & COMMUNICATIONS BUSINESS ME What is your focus in the Middle East? 3M Gulf covers all the GCC, including Jordan, Lebanon and Libya. The Middle East remains one of 3M’s core markets, and there is a considerable amount of investment being channelled into the company in the region to build and strengthen its operations. Is the region receptive to innovation? 3M is in the process of bringing its technology even closer to customers with the opening of an innovative Customer Technical Centre in Dubai. This will be the ﬁrst centre of its kind in the Middle East. It is expected to open later in 2010, and will act as an innovative base for customers to test 3M’s exciting products and solutions that are new to the Middle East market. The centre will also provide 3M with an expanded facility in the Middle East to better support customer needs across the region. The centre will draw upon 3M’s global R&D strength and 45 technology platforms to provide solutions for local customers. The fact that we are opening this new centre in Dubai demonstrates our commitment to bring innovative solutions to our customers in this exciting and growing market. The facility will be divided into a number of zones, including 3M Electrical, which will be a part of the centre where we will showcase our technology, capabilities and products for the Middle East market. Customers will be able to touch and test multiple 3M technologies and learn about their various applications in the on-site teaching rooms. Can you outline some of the most popular products? 3M Cold Shrink technologies is what makes up our joints and terminations for low, medium and high voltage classes, and it is classic simplicity – it moulds round a joint or termination under its own elasticity without the need for special tools or techniques. www.constructionweekonline.com

3M is in the process of bringing its technology even closer to customers with the opening of an innovative Customer Technical Centre in Dubai. This will be the first centre of its kind in the Middle East. “ Martin Parsons Its secret lies right insidee every 3M Cold Shrink component in the form of a plasent has been tic coil. After the component le end, this placed over the joint or cable inner spiral is pulled out. The insulating tube then contractss from its rinks onto pre-stretched size and shrinks nent radial the cable, exerting permanent me. pressure for the joint lifetime. The simplicity of design is matched esearch that by the complexity of the research erial develop3M has put into the material ments over the last three decades. Siliial used as an cone rubber is the material nd terminations. insulator for our joints and se to water, It is hydrophobic, or averse portant which is particularly important in outdoor terminations. Water ets on the surface forms droplets rather than spreading into an se even film that can increase the chances of tracking or of liinsulation breakdown. Silio cone is mostly inorganic, so g leakage currents or arcing on the surface do not createe a conducting carbon path. As an additional safeguard, 3M uses track-resistant filler. Silicone is UV-stable without the need for in-

hibitors, while its smooth surface provides minimal grip for contaminants so rain will wash them away. Any new product launches / developments? We will be introducing a new range of LV inline resin jointing kits and resin bags. The new mould body design is based on a hinged, one-part joint body that allows resin to be sealed inside the mould without the use of mastic and tape. It does this by using an expanding foam seal. No need anymore for the installer to cut the mould ends to the cable OD. The installation from the bottom brings a compulsory guide with automatic snap-ﬁt, and the integration of the CMP system into the body eliminates assembly of different parts. Its piercing system will release the resin once the resin bag is connected on the body. There is also a new environmentfriendly resin Scotchcast #40, fully compliant to EU directive 2002/95/ EC (RoHS), while EU regulation 1907/2007/EC (REACH) Resin 40 is hydrophobic. It is supplied in the bag with a pouring nozzle, which represents a step less in the preparation process.

May 2010 | MEP Middle East 23

ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS DILIP SINHA, REGIONAL GM, HONEYWELL ECC & EDNS, MENA Can you give us some background on ECC? Honeywell Environmental & Combustion Controls (ECC) provides everything from thermostats to BMS used by various integrators to provide a complete building management solution for sectors from hospitality to education, health, residential and commercial. Important projects in this regard in where we are involved are Princess Nora University and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. What technology platforms do you employ? We have some breakthrough technologies in ECC such as air valves and intelligent controls from Phoenix for laboratories and hospitals. The response time in detecting a change in pressure is under a second. ECC BMS controllers can integrate with these products to provide a total solution for the entire HVAC control system and BMS. What makes Honeywell ECC such a great business is that, under one roof, it provides an unparalleled solution comprising top brands like Alerton, Centraline, Phoenix, Tridium and Trend. These brands provide customers with technology and applications that suit a particular construction need, instead of the typical situation of an external BMS provider supplying competing products where

the portfolio would be much smaller. Honeywell ECC provides multiple brands for multiple applications, from the very basic to the highest level, so customers can really pick and choose. Products comprise HVAC controls, including thermostats, valves, variable air volume (VAV) controls, air valves, chilled water controllers, comprising normal wire technology as well as wireless thermostats, where you stand to save a lot in terms of wiring and cables. Energy efficiency is something we promote actively, and help customers monitor and reduce energy consumption. Why is BMS so increasingly important? By applying BMS, not only do you have efficient air-con and integration of the fire alarm system, surveillance and access control, it provides for a very efficient use of the equipment as well as optimising energy savings. Our VAV technology employs variable frequency drives (VFDs), by which you control the speed of the motor and hence the air flow. So instead of using ordinary dampers, which people employed traditionally, VFD controls the motor speed by sensors and therefore controls the flow, saving a tremendous amount of energy.

Due to the billions of dollars being spent, surely the governments and planners want the best technology to be used. “ Dilip Sinha

We cater for both BACnet and LONnet, including such unique solutions as Niagra for automation control. This means we cater for optimal ﬂexibility and adaptability in application, as well as being able to supply the latest technologies. Everybody sees thermostats, but what you do not see is all the building controls sitting in the control room controlling everything else. The bulk of these have invariably been supplied by Honeywell, either as engineering solutions or via our solution provider partners across the region. How much of the region do you cover? From this ofﬁce we cater for the entire Middle East, and also parts of North and East Africa. This market is being driven by the investment in infrastructure in the construction industry. There is a huge investment across the region in education (universities), medical facilities (hospitals) and commercial infrastructure, as with the economic cities springing up in Saudi Arabia. A similar thing is also happening in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, with Masdar City driving a lot of the technology uptake in the latter. Due to the billions of dollars being spent, surely the governments and planners want the best technology to be used. They want to put their money to real good use. All of the key areas showing growth are demanding hi-tech systems with the capability to integrate with third-party systems, as well as being able to realise the best energy savings. A Honeywell controller can integrate with any other products. This means that both customers and technology planners and users can make the best choices without being limited to one particular product or company. Thus Honeywell ECC provides a platform for world-class brands and different types of technology. What are the latest developments? Another area that Honeywell ED&S has moved into recently is commercial and residential lighting controls. The latter comprises RF-based solutions, and then we have the Exxon brand from the UK for commercial lighting control sensors, which are not only based on occupancy, but also body heat and external light levels. These are intelligent, point-to-point sensors that can realise a 35% energy-saving in commercial buildings. What are your growth prospects? Honeywell is expanding in a big way, strengthening its already strong infrastructure and people base in the region, both on the technical/sales and operational side.

24 MEP Middle East | May 2010

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Sun Pharmaceutical (India) Implementing Infinova Surveillance System Provides Assurance that Company Meets International Manufacturing Standards By Milind Borkar Infinova India's Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., a manufacturer of specialty pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients for chronic therapy areas such as cardiology, psychology, neurology, g a s t ro e n t e ro l o g y, d i a b e t e s a n d respirator y illnesses, is using Infinova fixed day/night and explosion-proof cameras plus other Infinova surveillance equipment to help keep them compliant with international health agencies. Sun Pharmaceutical must meet stringent international manufacturing standards and ensure that people, systems and processes remain in compliance with the latest regulations, such as those enforced by the USFDA (United States Food & Drug Administration) ad UK MHRA (United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. They can now provide evidence to these bodies that they are meeting compliance regulations as well as watching over the manufacturing facilities and being able to instantly order a stoppage in case someone or some system is not following procedure. One of the Infinova cameras is the V5112A2, a fixed day/night camera featuring a high resolution 1/3-inch CCD sensor and excellent low light operation available in resolutions of 480 TVL at 0.5 lux color / 0.02 lux B/W. The V5112-A2 series can automatically switch from color mode to black/white mode in very low light environments,

making them the perfection solution for around-the-clock surveillance. Another is the Infinova V1421, an explosion-proof model from Infinova's specialized surveillance product family. This camera housing is made of 316 stainless steel that meets stringent corrosion resistant specifications. This special camera housing was designed specifically to suit the requirements of the pharmaceutical industry. More information on Infinova camera solutions is available at www.infinova.com. About Infinova Infinova makes it possible for IP and analog surveillance cameras and equipment to co-exist and be managed as a single seamless system solution, helping integrators generate more business by being able to say “yes” to a broader scope of projects. Infinova provides megapixel, IP and analog surveillance cameras, including specialized cameras, control room equipment, fiber optic communications and customized systems. The Infinova solution enables end-users to extend the life of their existing analog equipment by having it co-exist with their new IP video equipment. Infinova partners with brand-leader manufacturers to create best-in-class solutions and certifies the functionality of their partners' solutions when integrated with Infinova products. Infinova is acknowledged in the industry for its exceptional customer service programs and is often called “the integrator's manufacturer.”

Camera

Controller

DVR/NVR

Optical Modem

Access

Software

TECHNOLOGY

Screw technology vs. lobe-type blowers Atlas Copco is so convinced that traditional lobe technology no longer meets the needs of today’s low-carbon economy that it is replacing its roots-type rotary lobe blowers. crew technology, on average, is 30% more energy-efficient compared to lobe technology. Industries and applications such as wastewater treatment, pneumatic conveying, power generation, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, pulp and paper, textiles, cement and general manufacturing stand to benefit from the energy savings by replacing the conventional lobe with the leading screw technology. Stephan Kuhn, president of Atlas Copco’s Compressor Technique business area, says: “Atlas Copco innovates continuously to ensure sustainable productivity for our customers. They will benefit greatly from the average 30% energy savings achieved from our leading-edge screw technology compared to conventional lobe-type blowers. Atlas Copco customers are able to take advantage of tomorrow’s blower technology today.” According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “about 56 billion kWh is used for drinking water and wastewater services. Assuming an average mix of energy sources in the country, this equates to adding almost 45 million tons of greenhouse

gases to the atmosphere. Just 10% of energy savings in this sector could collectively save about US$400 million annually.” In a typical biological wastewater treatment plant, the aeration blower system accounts for up to 70% of the energy use. Millions of bacteria feed on organic waste, breaking it up into carbon dioxide, nitrogen gas and water. As the bacteria need oxygen, large amounts

A screw blower element

Screw technology, on average, is 30% more energy-efﬁcient compared to lobe technology.“ Stephan Kuhn

26 MEP Middle East | May 2010

A ZF 75+ VSD

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TECHNOLOGY

of air are blown into the aeration tanks. Today the majority of these plants use lessefﬁcient lobe technology, a technology that has had little development since its introduction in the late 19th century. By reducing the energy use of their aeration blower system, these plants will decrease their energy costs while operating in a more environmentfriendly manner.

BILLION KWH used for drinking water and wastewater services in the US

COMPLETE PORTFOLIO Chris Lybaert, president of Atlas Copco’s Oil-Free Air division, adds: “Energy consumption typically represents 80% of the lifecycle costs of a blower. By introducing screw technology to our air blower range, we now offer a complete product portfolio of compressors and blowers for all applications and processes below 4 bar(e)/58 psig. Atlas Copco’s screw technology helps customers to save energy, which is a major advantage in a highly-competitive marketplace.” The performance of the new ZS screw blower was tested against a tri-lobe blower by the independent Technische Überwachungs-Verein (German Technical Monitor-

ing Association, or TÜV), according to the international standard ISO 1217, edition 4. It was proven that the ZS is 23.8% more energyefficient than a tri-lobe blower at 0.5 bar(e)/7 psig, and 39.7% at 0.9 bar(e)/13 psig. The world-class efficiency of the new ZS screw blower is attributed mainly to the superior screw technology. Other important features that secure increased efficiency and reliability are the integrated gearbox, the oil system and the innovative design that integrates all individual components into a plugand-run solution.

Stephan Kuhn

Turnkey Hot Water & Steam Systems

Electric

Boiler

Steam

Solar

Hot water & steam systems Energy & space saving

Skid mounted units Hygienic hot water

Speci cation support Compact design

Leading-edge construction High-quality stainless steel

SHERATON HOTEL, HONG KONG

BURJ TOWER, DUBAI

GRAND HYATT HOTEL, DOHA

SHORELINE APARTMENTS, DUBAI

_ 782 rooms, ballrooms & meeting spaces, restaurants & lounges, cafes & bars _ Electric hot water system 800 kW, 4x 2500 litres _ Heat pumps, 4x 350 kW _Electric steam boilers, 2x 1800 kg/h, 10bar

_ Armani Hotel, residences, of ces 71000 litres/hour hygienic hot water at 60 °C _ Gas condensing boilers & skid mounted heat exchanger packages, 11x 300 kW

_ 249 rooms & 93 villas, 39000 litres/hour hygienic hot water at 60 °C _ Steam boilers, 3x 4000 kg/h, 11 bar _ Stainless steel high capacity water heaters, 6x 450 kW, 6600 litres/hour at 60 °C

_ 6 buildings, each with 156 apartments, 10000 litres/hour hygienic hot water at 60 °C _ 200 m² solar panel area, solar gain 80 % _ Gas condensing boilers for back-up heating 2x 80 kW _ Stainless steel calori ers, 3x 4000 litres

ECOTHERM Middle East P.O. Box 299350 Dubai - U.A.E

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Tel. +97144226944 Fax. +97144226943 info@ecotherm.com

www.ecotherm.com

May 2010 | MEP Middle East 27

REGION IN FOCUS

Top MEP projects in Kuwait We take a closer look at some of the major MEP projects underway in Kuwait, courtesy of Ventures Middle East. PETROLEUM RESEARCH LABORATORY IN AHMADI - PHASE 2 Client: Kuwait Institute for Scientiﬁc Re-

MEP contractor: In-house Value (US$m): 31-100 Status: Under construc-

tion

Consultant: Al Zamami Consultants Main contractor: Bader Al Mulla & Bros Co. MEP contractor: In House Value (US$m): 2.5 - 15 Project status: project under construction Project type:

Type: Mixed-use

AL HAMRA TOWER Client: Ajial Real Estate Company Consultant: Al Jazeera Consultants Main contractor: Ahmadiah Trading &

sain Al Yousiﬁ/In-house/ Power Company Value (US$m): 16-30 Status: Under construction Type: Commercial

Contracting

MEP contractor: Kharaﬁ National Value (US$m): 241 Project status: project under construction Project type: Commercial Buildings KUWAIT BUSINESS TOWN AT AL MIRQAB AREA - ZONE 1 Client: Kuwait Business Town Holding Company

Consultant: Projacs/KEO Int’l/Gensler Associates

Main contractor: First United General Trading & Contracting

MEP contractor: Bader Al Mulla Value (US$m): 108 Project status: project under construction Project type: SALMIYA PARK IN KUWAIT Client: PAAFR/KCMCC Consultant: Projacs/Gulf Consult Main contractor: Wara Construction Company

MEP contractor: Al Mashan/Nasser Al Sayel/Wara Int’l

Value (US$m): 124 Status: Under construction Type: Recreational facilities MANGAF NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE Client: Ministry of Public Works Consultant: KEO International Main contractor: Burgan Contracting 28 MEP Middle East | May 2010

KCPC HQ IN SHUWAIKH Client: KCPC Consultant: Gulf Consult Main contractor: KCPC MEP contractor: Essa Hus-

EXTENSION OF CROWNE PLAZA Client: Intercontinental Hotels Group Consultant: Osama Bukhamseen Design Main contractor: BIG Contractors MEP contractor: In-house Value (US$m): 31-100 Status: Under construction Type: Hotel

POLICE COLLEG COLLEGE AT MUBARIKIYA DISTRICT Client: Ministry of Public Works Consultant: Gul Gulf Consult/SOM Main contractor: contracto Kuwait Arab Contractors MEP contractor contractor: Alliant Value (US$m): 1157 Status: Under construction c Type: Education Educational facilities BASIC EDUCATI EDUCATION CAMPUS AT ARDIYA (FEMALE) Client: Public Authority A for Applied Education & Training Consultant: Pac Pace/Morganti Main contractor: contracto United Gulf Construction Company MEP contractor contractor: Bader Al Mulla Value (US$m): 1138 Status: Under construction c Type: Education Educational facilities

SPECIAL FORCE FORCES TRAINING FACILITY Client: MPW/M MPW/MOI Consultant: Dar Al Handasah Main contractor: contracto Alamiah Building Company MEP contractor contractor: Drake & Scull/Naﬁsi/First United General Trading Value (US$m): 2204 Status: Under construction c Type: Education Educational facilities

IDEAL HIGH SCHOOL AT AL FARWANIYA Client: MOE/MPW Consultant: Al Zamami

Associates

Consultants

Main contractor: contracto Ahmadiah Trading &

Main contractor: Bader Al

Contracting

Mulla & Bros. Co. WLL MEP contractor: In-house Value (US$m): 16-30 Status: Under construction Type: Educational facilities

MEP contractor contractor: In-house Value (US$m): 2280 Status: Under construction c Type: Mixed-us Mixed-use

A rendering of the Al Sharq tower

UNITED TOWER AT SHARQ Client: United R Real Estate Company Consultant: SSH/Kohn SSH Pederson & Fox

FIRE DEPARTME DEPARTMENT HQ AT MISHREF Client: Kuwait Fire F Department Consultant: Al S Shaheen Engineering Main contractor: contracto Al Sager General Trading & Contracting

MEP ccontractor: Al Arabi/United Services/Bader Al Mulla www.constructionweekonline.com

REGION IN FOCUS

An impression of Salmiya Park

Value (US$m): 2.5-15 Status: Under Construction Type: Commercial AL KHORAFI TOWER AT SHARQ Client: Mr Khoraﬁ Consultant: Saleh Al Qallaf Consultant Main contractor: Sadeem Al Kuwait General Trading & Contracting

MEP contractor: Yousef Ahmed Al Ghanim & Sons/Miraco Value (US$m): 16-30 Status: Under construction Type: Commercial

BASIC EDUCATION CAMPUS AT ARDIYA (MALE) Client: Public Authority for Applied Education & Training

A rendering of the Al Hamra tower

KUWAIT’S BRIGHT FUTURE Kuwait is the world’s fourth-largest oil exporter, and estimates its own reserves at 100 billion barrels, or more than 100 years of production. Endowed with plentiful hydrocarbon reserves and a small population, it remains one of the world’s most affluent countries, with per capita GDP in excess of US$50 000. According to Nomura, a leading global investment bank headquartered in Japan, the Kuwaiti economy’s limited absorption capacity means that it regularly runs large fiscal and current account surpluses, and has built a substantial pool of foreign assets, held both privately and publicly. The Kuwaiti economy weathered the global financial crisis and economic downturn relatively well due to its oil cushion, though noisy domestic politics hampered the adoption of potentially beneficial fiscal stimulus. The eventual passage of legislation to increase infrastructure spending sharply over the next four years was a welcome development, though implementation will be the key to ensuring a

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more widespread economic impact. Kuwaiti Minister of Finance Mustafa AlShimali has said his country has already overcome the negative implications of the global financial crisis. In a speech delivered on his behalf by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance Khalifa Hamada at the recent Country Risk Conference, the minister affirmed the strength of the economic and financial conditions of Kuwait and other GCC member states. Coface, in its 2009 report, underlines that Middle East countries have shown good resilience during the crisis and confirmed the A2 rating of Kuwait, he added. The A2 rating of Kuwait is mainly based on key oil and financial resources, as well as its strategic alliances with main powers in the world, notably the US, the UK and France. Al-Shimali cited the recently approved development plan, which envisions the spending of over KD30 billion (approximately USD 104 billion) between 2010 and 2014.

Consultant: PACE/Morganti Main contractor: Combined Group Contracting Company

MEP contractor: Drake & Scull Value (US$m): 135 Status: Under construction Type: Educational facilities TWIN TOWERS AT MURQAB Client: Wafra Real Estate Company Consultant: Al Habshi Consultant Ofﬁce Main contractor: First United General Trading & Contracting Company

MEP contractor: Bader Al Mulla Value (US$m): 101-250 Status: Under construction Type: Commercial NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING EXTENSION Client: Ministry of Public Works Consultant: Seif Engineering Consultant/ HOK

Main contractor: Alamiah Building Co. MEP contractor: Bader Al Mulla Value (US$m): 104 Status: Under construction Type: Commercial

May 2010 | MEP Middle East 29

BUSINESS LEADS

PROJECTS IN KUWAIT MEP Middle East and Ventures Middle East have teamed up to provide you with essential project information. PASSENGER TERMINAL AT KUWAIT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

nearly 11 million passengers from January to September 2009. Client: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) The latest US$2.1 billion expanConsultant: Foster & Partners (UK) sion project features two phases. Main contractor: Not Appointed Phase I will see construction of a MEP contractor: Not Appointed new terminal and upgrade of airﬁeld infrastructure. The new terValue: US$m: 1 000 minal is anticipated to be complete Status: Under design by November 2016, and is expectType: Airport Kuwait International Airport ed to handle 13 million passengers Contact: Directorate General of Civil Aviation, +965 2433 6699 per year. Kuwait International Airport (KIA) is located in Farwaniya, 16 km south It will be christened Terminal 2 or the Kuwait Airways Terminal. The of the capital, Kuwait City. It also houses the Kuwait Air Force head- new U-shaped terminal will spread over an area of 90 000 m² and will quarters, Al Mubarak Air Base and a Kuwait Air Force museum. The feature 30 gates. It will be located to the south of the existing terminal airport handled more than seven million passengers in 2008, but a steep and be linked to the existing terminal through a new tunnel. The airport rise in passenger numbers and air trafﬁc resulted in the airport handling will have eight gates capable of handling A380 aircraft.

Project Title

Client

Consultant

Main Contractor

MEP Contractor

Value (US$. Mn)

Project Status

Type of Project

17 Storey Ofﬁce Building in Hawally

Almad Real Estate

Option One

Not Appointed

2.5 - 15

project under design

Commercial Buildings

Showroom in Shuwaikh

Mr. Zayed Al Khalid

Al Mousawi Engineering Consultant

Not Appointed

2.5 - 15

project under design

Commercial Buildings

Furniture Showroom in Shuwaikh

Mr. Zayed Al Khalid

Al Mousawi Engineering Consultant

Not Appointed

2.5 - 15

project under design

Commercial Buildings

Accommodation for Jumeirah Development in Ahmadi

Jumeirah Development

Al Aliyan Consulting

Not Appointed

16 - 30

project under design

Residential Buildings

Medical Clinics Project

A'Ayan Real Estate Company

Soor Engineering Bureau

Not Appointed

16 - 30

project under design

Hospital

Police Headquarters at Mubarak al-Kabeer

Ministry of Public Works

SSH

Not Appointed

bidding underway for the main contract

Commercial Buildings

Commercial Building in Shuwaikh

Mr. Zayed Al Khalid

Al Mousawi Engineering Consultant

Not Appointed

2.5 - 15

bidding underway for the main contract

Commercial Buildings

19-Storey Residential Building in Jabriya

Wafra Real Estate Company

Option One

Not Appointed

16 - 30

project under design

Residential Buildings

Kuwait Institute of Justice

Ministry of Public Works/Ministry of Justice

Al Zamami Consultant

Not Appointed

31 - 100

award awaited for the main contract

Educational Facilities

Bibi Tower

Al-Recardo General Trading Company

Option One

Not Appointed

16 - 30

award awaited for the main contract

Residential Buildings

Avenue Shopping Mall Expansion - Phase 3

Mabanee Company

PACE/Gensler

Al Ghanim International Trading & Gen. Contg.

Not Appointed

908

project under construction

Shopping Centre

Financial Centre Building at Sharq

Al Shaab Real Estate Company

KEO International

Not Appointed

31 - 100

project under design

Mixed Use

Musical & Theatrical Arts College in Mushrif

Ministry of Education

PSP/Saleh Al Qallaf

Not Appointed

16 - 30

project under design

Educational Facilities

Villa in Massila Area

Mr. Fawaz Al Hassani

Projacs/Option One

Sadeem Al Kuwait General Trdg & Cont.

Not Appointed

project under construction

Residential Buildings

Arabilla

McDonald

Kuwait Engineering Group

Tsunami Trading & Contracting Company

Not Appointed

2.5 - 15

project under construction

Commercial Buildings

Two Storey Ofﬁce Building in Shuwaikh

Ministry of Health

Al Aliyan Consulting

Not Appointed

2.5 - 15

project under design

Commercial Buildings

Al Inayah Hospital in Abu Halifa

Al Amal Hospital

Option One

First United General Trading & Contracting

Not Appointed

16 - 30

project under construction

Hospital

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

For the latest Middle East MEP project information, visit 30 MEP Middle East | May 2010

m www.constructionweekonline.com

LEGAL

The ‘notices’

PROVISION Dennis Brand from Traprain Consultants examines the ‘notices’ provision contained in the conditions of contract.

any of you will deal with industry-standard form contracts, while others will deal with company standard or even bespoke forms; whatever the form of contract, the notices provision contained in the conditions of contract is probably one of the least-read provisions. The notices provision does not attract the same degree of interest as, say, the variation or change order provisions, or provisions which deal with certificates of completion, suspension or even termination, but in each case a notice is required. Let me be clear: a notice provision in a contract is not the same as where a contract includes the term ‘notify’; a requirement that one party must inform the other of a thing or matter. A notice provision is where the contract includes the term ‘shall give notice’ (or something similar), which usually requires a formal written notice to be issued by one party and delivered to the other. For example, a ‘Notice to Proceed’ is a formal notice issued under many forms of industry-standard contracts. The issue of a ‘Notice to Proceed’ is the confirmation that the contractor or supplier of a service is to start work. To proceed on the basis of simply being notified, which could be a phonecall or even a text message, without a formal notice in writing, would be risky in the extreme for the contractor or supplier. From the employer’s side, such a notice is equally important because, by issuing the formal ‘Notice to Proceed’, he knows that, regardless of what discussions or communications he may have had with the contractor or supplier, they will only start work, and thereby incur cost to his account, once the employer has issued the ‘Notice to Proceed’, and not before. When one is involved in the preparation of a contract and the subject of the notices prowww.constructionweekonline.com

vision is to be addressed, there are really six points or matters to be considered:

1. HOW MANY DAYS? The first thing is that the period of notice should be expressed in days rather than weeks. Notice periods will differ depending upon the reason for the notice. When determining the number of days, the period should be reasonable, not too long and not too short, and must be workable. Many contracts contain provisions that, where a contractor seeks additional money or a variation, the contractor must give notice within a limited number of days following the event which resulted in the request. Some contracts go further and provide that, if the notice is not given within the specified time, the contractor loses his right to claim a variation. You may think this pretty harsh, and indeed it is not one that courts or arbitrators like to enforce, but if the period for the notice is reasonable, the contractor should not have any difficulty in complying with it.

2. IN WHAT FORM? There is no standard form for a notice. The important thing to bear in mind is that it is a standalone document which advises the other party of something or requires the other party to do something. It should contain all the relevant information, including reference to the provision of the contract and relevant clause, so the recipient can be under no misapprehension as to the purpose of the notice and what is required. For example, FIDIC requires that, in the event of a dispute which is referred to the engineer for a decision, the notice must provide a description of the dispute and conﬁrmation that a decision of the engineer under the relevant clause is required. Failure to give that information will likely mean that the notice is considered invalid.

authority. Rarely will the contract state who should sign the notice. Therefore it should be signed by the same person who signs all other contract correspondence, such as the contractor’s or employer’s nominated representative.

4. TO WHOM SHOULD THEY BE SENT? Due to the importance of such a notice, it is important it is brought to the attention of the senior management of the contractor or employer. However, for those large organisations where the head office might be in another country, a notice sent to the head office will not be acted upon at site level until it has been received and site management informed. In order to avoid attendant problems, it is not unusual to see a notice provision which requires the notice to be addressed to a named individual in the head office, with a copy sent to the project manager on-site. I have seen this put to good effect where the employer, who was not getting the required action from the site, issuing a notice, which required the original to be sent to the head office.

5. HOW SHOULD THEY BE DELIVERED? Usually a notice provision provides for notices to be delivered by one of three methods: by hand, by mail or by fax. To deliver a notice by hand means exactly what is says; it also includes delivery by courier. To include a provision allowing the delivery of a notice by mail, consideration must be given to the delivery point, which could be another country. Often a number of days are added in case of delay, with an overall number of days agreed upon when delivery will be considered as having taken place. For delivery by fax, the sender’s fax report conﬁrms the delivery.

6. IS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT NEEDED? 3. WHO SHOULD SIGN THEM? Due to the importance of a contractual notice, it should only be signed by someone in

In my view never … that simply invites problems! Dennis.Brand@traprain.com May 2010 | MEP Middle East 33

METAL MONITOR

NON-FERROUS METAL PRICES The London Metal Exchange (LME) is the world’s premier non-ferrous metals market. The LME offers futures and options contracts for aluminium, copper, lead, nickel and NASAAC, among others. Many of these materials are indispensable in the MEP sector. The latest historical data from the LME is presented to give readers insight into this dynamic trading market. For further information visit www.lme.co.uk.

MARCH 2010 THE LONDON METAL EXCHANGE LIMITED AVERAGE OFFICIAL AND SETTLEMENT PRICES US$/TONNE

Cash Buyer Cash Seller & Settlement Cash Mean 3-months Buyer 3-months Seller 3-months Mean 15-months Buyer 15-months Seller 15-months Mean 27-months Buyer 27-months Seller 27-months Mean

Primary Aluminium (dollars)

Aluminium Alloy (dollars)

Copper

Lead

Nickel

NASAAC

(dollars)

2204.78 2205.63 2205.21 2236.04 2236.96 2236.50 2330.83 2335.83 2333.33 2408.74 2413.74 2411.24

2007.09 2016.30 2011.70 2037.30 2047.17 2042.24 2141.09 2151.09 2146.09 2224.78 2234.78 2229.78

7461.91 7462.83 7462.37 7493.28 7494.85 7494.07 7509.13 7519.13 7514.13 7424.78 7434.78 7429.78

2171.24 2172.09 2171.66 2197.87 2200.11 2198.99 2205.74 2210.74 2208.24 2165.04 2170.04 2167.54

22446.30 22461.30 22453.80 22505.65 22516.09 22510.87 22286.09 22386.09 22336.09 21741.96 21841.96 21791.96

2111.52 2121.22 2116.37 2142.83 2153.93 2148.38 2244.13 2254.13 2249.13 2315.65 2325.65 2320.65

THE FOLLOWING STERLING EQUIVALENTS HAVE BEEN CALCULATED, ON THE BASIS OF DAILY CONVERSIONS: Copper Cash Seller & Settlement: Copper 3-months Seller: Lead Cash Seller & Settlement: Lead 3-months Seller:

£4,958.90 £4,983.04 £1,443.18 £1,462.64

Settlement Conversion Exchange Rates Stg/$ $/JY Euro

1.5049 90.66 1.3572

$7589 Copper 3-months seller

LME AVERAGE SETTLEMENT PRICES IN EURO Metal

Euro Settlement Conversion Rate

Primary Aluminium

1625.22

Aluminium Alloy

1485.87

Copper

5499.15

Lead

1600.16

Nickel

16553.62

Tin

12931.77

Nasaac

1563.09

FEBUARY 2010 THE LONDON METAL EXCHANGE LIMITED AVERAGE OFFICIAL AND SETTLEMENT PRICES US$/TONNE

Cash Buyer Cash Seller & Settlement Cash Mean 3-months Buyer 3-months Seller 3-months Mean 15-months Buyer 15-months Seller 15-months Mean 27-months Buyer 27-months Seller 27-months Mean

Primary Aluminium (dollars)

Aluminium Alloy (dollars)

Copper

Lead

Nickel

NASAAC

(dollars)

2,048.23 2,048.93 2,048.58 2,079.10 2,079.95 2,079.53 2,172.20 2,177.20 2,174.70 2,246.80 2,251.80 2,249.30

1,885.03 1,892.93 1,888.98 1,913.00 1,923.25 1,918.13 2,019.75 2,029.75 2,024.75 2,102.25 2,112.25 2,107.25

6,847.20 6,848.18 6,847.69 6,870.30 6,872.45 6,871.38 6,876.50 6,886.50 6,881.50 6,810.25 6,820.25 6,815.25

2,121.23 2,123.68 2,122.45 2,139.93 2,142.20 2,141.06 2,140.45 2,145.45 2,142.95 2,107.45 2,112.45 2,109.95

18,964.75 18,976.00 18,970.38 19,034.00 19,052.00 19,043.00 18,983.00 19,083.00 19,033.00 18,701.00 18,801.00 18,751.00

1,978.98 1,988.50 1,983.74 2,008.25 2,018.75 2,013.50 2,112.25 2,122.25 2,117.25 2,185.25 2,195.25 2,190.25

£4,385.77 £4,539.08 £1,360.13 £1,372.84

Settlement Conversion Exchange Rates Stg/$ $/JY Euro

1.5621 90.23 1.3687

$6825 Copper 3-months seller

LME AVERAGE SETTLEMENT PRICES IN EURO Metal

Euro Settlement Conversion Rate

Primary Aluminium

1,497.12

Aluminium Alloy

1,383.15

Copper

5,004.76

Lead

1,552.13

Nickel

13,871.06

Nasaac

1,452.98

Neither the LME nor any of its directors, officers or employees shall, except in the case of fraud or wilful neglect, be under any liability whatsoever either in contract or in tort in respect of any act or omission (including negligence) in relation to the preparation or publication of the data contained in the report.

35 MEP Middle East | May 2010

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PRODUCTS

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36 MEP Middle East | May 2010

Lydall Affinity has introduced a new line of portable air-cooled chillers. The ‘S’ series feature a flexible, scalable design concept allowing the customer to match the system configuration to their cooling application. Two models are available, with either a 1 kW or a 2 kW cooling capacity. Both units offer customers numerous benefits, including an easy-to-operate LCD user interface, various communications options (Ethernet, RS-485, RS-232 and more), multiple pump capabilities and global voltage compatibility. The ‘S’ series represents a more ‘off-the-shelf’ short lead time option from Lydall Affinity, which is well-known for providing custom-designed chiller solutions. As with all of its products, the ‘S’ series chillers are backed by its worldwide service and support network. Lydall Affinity designs and manufactures a broad line of high-performance chillers and heat exchangers. Affinity-brand refrigerated chillers cover a heat load range of 1 kW to 300 kW, while the company’s water-to-water units offer even higher heat-removal capabilities. The company provides both air- and water-cooled units with a variety of pumps, safety and controller options. www.lydallaffinity.com

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PRODUCTS CABLE TRAY SOLUTIONS

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AIR FLOW FOR LARGE COMMERCIAL SPACES Element by Big Ass Fans was designed from the ground up to deliver the benefits of Big Ass Fans to large architectural, air-conditioned environments. The smooth air circulation and energy efficiency of Big Ass Fans have been reborn into a silent and stylish fan that complements any environment. Element’s oil-free prime mover allows silent operation, while onboard controls eliminate electrical interference. Element features the first customisable platform, providing the option to incorporate optional accessories. The LED wall-mounted keypad is user-friendly and easy to install. Available in 12 to 20 foot diameters, and backed by a ten-year year warranty, Element is the most ground-breaking commercial, architectural Big Ass Fan in the world. Element works in conjunction with HVAC systems to help distribute conditioned air, while decreasing energy consumption by up to 25%. Element provides efficient air movement for up to 10 000 square feet of space, making it an eco-friendly, energy-efficient product for spaces such as offices, retail spaces, showrooms, churches and malls. One 12 foot Element provides as much air flow as thirty-six 52-inch standard ceiling fans at one-fourth of the operating cost. Element has been installed in many LEED certified-buildings, and LEED credits can be gained from use of the Element in the following areas: Optimised Energy Performance; Enhanced Refrigerant Management; Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance; Increased Ventilation; Thermal Comfort – Design; and Innovation in Design. www.bigassfans.com

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Cooper B-Line, a global provider of innovative, labour-saving support systems and enclosure solutions for engineered facility subsystem applications, has introduced a steel ladder cable tray product line to its regional customers in the GCC. The new steel ladder cable trays feature the popular slotted-hole rungs, and are specifically sized to allow the easy attachment of cable cleats. Cooper B-Line’s I-Beam system, the strongest available side rail shape, provides the steel ladder trays with additional benefits, including maximum strength-to-weight ratio. The new product line, designed specifically for use in this region, is yet another commitment by Cooper B-Line to offer world-class products and solutions. In addition, Cooper B-Line offers a broad line of additional cable tray products for its customers in this region, including aluminum and fibreglass cable ladders, as well as its original cable tray and Flextray wire basket products. Cooper B-Line also provides its best-in-class specification engineering services in the region, which features pre- and post-sale engineering and technical support to customers throughout the territory. www.cooperbline.com

AIR-CON CHECK Cliplight, a leading tool, leak detection and refrigeration sealant manufacturer, has introduced Vision and Firefly, believed to be the HVAC industry’s first refrigeration manifold (pressure) gauge sets with sight glasses for diagnostics in air-con, refrigeration, and appliance equipment. Vision’s manifold makes refrigerant/oil inspection quick and easy with a deep-well, see-through sight glass feature that uses ambient light for illumination. FireFly combines a built-in 2X magnifying sight glass with both white or blue LED backlighting to illuminate refrigerant, contaminants and whether the system has UV dye. The backlight has an ergonomicallyplaced on/off switch that illuminates the sight-glass for accuracy. It increases refrigerant visibility by 75% when combined with the magnification feature. Pressing the on/off switch a second time activates the blue light and illuminates any refrigerant UV dye traces. www.cliplight.com

38 MEP Middle East | May 2010

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THE LAST WORD

Counting

THE COST David Lee examines the long-term implications of cost variations in MEP contracts, and embarks on a search for fi nance-friendly alternatives. Have you ever seen working drawings for structural concrete, or for the fi nishings? No? Why is it that, under a ‘fully-designed’ contract, the MEP sub-contractor has to produce a new set of drawings for approval before he can start installation? Here is another question. Why does virtually every specification document sent out to tender for the MEP works have a clause in it which reads: “If there is a discrepancy between any or all of the documents, you are deemed to have allowed for putting it right, at no cost to the client”. Keep in mind that the designer has had two years to design the works, and the tenderer has maybe eight weeks to fi nd these discrepancies, notify the client’s team and price them. MEP is approximately 30% of the cost of the average construction contract. To allow this major – and, arguably, most important – package of works to proceed without full design is a great fi nancial risk. An analysis of the fi nal

30%

MEP’s portion of the average construction contract

40 MEP Middle East | May 2010

accounts on eight construction contracts completed in Abu Dhabi showed that, on average, the MEP was responsible for over 50% of the total cost increase, attributed to variations. Design completion Most MEP contracts have a degree of ‘design completion’ inherent in them. But why? It just seems to be accepted practice in the industry for this to happen. At tender stage, the extent of the design completion is not deﬁ ned and so becomes a major area for dispute. When the MEP contractor asks for a variation, the debate begins as to whether it should have been allowed for in the tender. The usual comment is that it is at the contractors’ risk. But why? The one actually taking the risk, and paying for it, is the client. All manner of arguments can be advanced as to why the design cannot be completed prior to tender. The usual ones include differing possible choice of equipment suppliers, inability to co-ordinate with the structure and allowing the contractor freedom to install in the manner he sees best. Surely there should be a complete, workable, functioning, co-ordinated design that is ﬁt for competitive tender? That being so, the client team could easily evaluate the documents without the extended period,

The fact remains that going out for prices with an incomplete MEP design will cost the client more in the long run.“ - David Lee carry out post-tender discussions and incorporate those suggestions proposed by the tenderer. Further sets of drawings are then issued almost as soon as a contract price has been agreed, under the guise of ‘construction issue’. These become yet another fertile ground for dispute, disagreement and variation. Surely the design should have been ‘ready for construction’ before being sent for tender? Counter-argument The counter-argument could be that the client is not prepared to pay for a complete design and, anyway, the fees are insufﬁcient to allow the designer to undertake a full design. The client eventually ends up paying for the contractor to complete the design via an enhanced tender price, so why not pay the consultant? A further complication arises when the client puts pressure on the design team to distribute the documents by a certain date. Why not take a little longer with the documents and have these at a stage where queries are minimised?

Whatever the answer, the fact remains that going out for prices with an incomplete MEP design will cost the client more in the long run. In order to minimise the risks of time and cost overruns, it is suggested that the following be implemented: undertake an MEP risk assessment at tender stage, check for completeness of design, allow adequate time for tendering, and ensure that documents are current and reﬂect the design intent. David Lee is a senior consultant for Hill International in Abu Dhabi. He is involved in the project management and engineering of MEP services. Experienced in most major forms of contract, including all of the FIDIC versions, he has worked across all sectors of the industry, including airports, railways, infrastructure and all types of buildings and construction. Currently Lee is working on a range of projects, including a new international airport in Yemen and a power station in Saudi Arabia. www.constructionweekonline.com

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